paul wood

Paja, thank you so much for the table of St Sava makers, Paul

British award of Russian decorations are quite fun. There were a lot of army awarded for Gallipoli and the Naval boys were showered with awards for Jutland. There were also interesting and very sort after awards for the Naval Armoured Car Division in Russia. All of these can be traced on the London Gazette, with the exception of naval other ranks which are available on admiralty records (officers were gazetted). When we get to the Allied Intervention then the fun really begins (they were not gazetted). Roy Brough has listed many of the awards from various sources but the rolls are far from complete and the Naval rolll is virtually non existent (many of the recipients were awarded the decoration but never received it and just wore the ribbon, so I have seen an another rank who was awarded the meal for Zeal on Anne ribbon actually wearing an Order of St Anne (thats the nearest he could find in his local pawn shop). All in all hours of fun for all of us who nothing better to do (or keeps them away from a nagging wife). All the best, Paul

He would have been at some stage with the 2nd King Edwards Horse reserve who were stationed in Ireland, hopefully one of our regular Hibernians will be able to give more detail as to what they were up to. Paul

Given the wear to the medal almost certainly a replacement suspension. As a collector of medals to Indians I surprisingly own a WWI pair with bilingual victory to a bearer Pappa of the Indian Bearer Corps (poor devil spent most of his time in the sick bay). Paul

Peron, Thanks for the useful site. Paul

Well it doesn't leave a nice taste (pigs would disagree as they prefer bad apples to fresh ones). Paul

Demir, I am sorry to hear this. I hope there is a reason for non-payment other than the obvious. I like to think members of this forum are a straightforward bunch. The thought that there is a bad apple leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. Paul

Thanks Dave, confirmed my supicions, probaly a later upgrade Paul

Proving he is talking from where the sun don't shine is sufficient Paul

Dave or anyone, I wonder if you can help me (slightly off-topic) I was giving a talk yesterday on foreign awards to British servicemen WW1 and asked members to bring along any related groups. I was shown one group which amongst other things contained a 2nd class set of the crown, type 2, similar but of better quality than that which is awarded now. He claimed that it had been awarded during the great war period (from award point of view ) up to 1921. When exactly was the type 2 first issued? It will settle an argument and hopefuly silence a smug ba*****d Paul

The Agricutural and Industrial Orders were instituted at the same time and came under one blanket, the difference between the two was the Agricultural had green enamel. The first (1893) type are quite rare and bear the portrait of King Carlos. I think I have seen a low grade Industrial but a long time ago. I have seen fakes of the Grand Cross of that type made by an unsrupulous former high up member of the Portuguese mint who once challenged me to duel after I suggested that his pieces were not particularly genuine. If anyone has an image of the type 1 either industrial of agricultutral it would be nice if they could post it. Paul

Try either avers-info@mail.ru or http://avers-book.ru All the best, Paul

Very nice I tend to prefer the silver medal to the 'gold' as the gilding wears of rather quickly and they tend to look rather tired, mind you I prefer the Montenegrin piece, I feel Milosh is more life-like there, mind you after he killed the sultan he wasn't life-like for long Paul

The Originals were made by Souval, who later used the dies to make replicas and concoct a few interesting variations, unless you have an award document backed piece it will be a later piece. If you had an orignal piece with an award document there would be people in India queueing to take off your hands. Paul

Imperial Railwaymans badge? Very nice. Paul

Nick please desist from showing all these lovely phantasies as my ribs are suffering from severe and painful bruising to to excessive laughter. Paul

Finally came up on the third attempt. The previous two I did were no problem (perhaps the computer said no). Thanks for the info. Paul

Alas said scumbag will cost the taxpayer many hundreds of thousand during his stay as a guest of Her Majesty, while the abolished method cost a minute fraction less. Paul

Maybe in the next millenium this reply might go through. This is the only thing that bugs me with this brilliant forum. Kirk does not ring a bell in relation to the orders, however when I see the images I will be able to do a bit of digging. Paul

The Otto I Greek Order is not as odd as you think. Many Brits got them, naval officers for the battle of Navarino and several brit officers on the Ionian Islands (which were Brit till 1862) who were involved with the various boundary commissions of the newly independent Greece. Paul

JD, Is there any provenace to these awards it certainly looks as if the majority (if not all the pieces) were awarded to one person. On the Bath badge, the white enamelled cross should be hallmarked on the gold below the suspension, if so what are the marks (date letter is especially important). Also are there any silver British campaign medals included. If so it is quite likely that one or more will be named and therefore put the whole jigsaw together. Sorry to be a bit testy in the earlier reply but we have seen so many instances when we have helped people with their enquiries and in some cases spent quite a lot of time researching only to see them being offered for sale on E-bay a few days later. If these items were to be sold I would recommend you considering placing them with a UK auction house as a lot (but far from all) of the value is associated with the Bath insignia. Look forward to receiving more information. Paul

4 is uncertain any chance of a better image (preferably both sides) possibly 2nd Empire Legion d'Honneur Knight, 5 Is Order of the Redeemer (Greece) Otto I issue (1833-63), Officer's breast badge, the last (6) which is a bit of an Afro-Caribbean in the woodpile is the French Order of St. Louis (obsolete 1830). The other orders suggest Crimean War period. These are quite valuable orders but without knowing the purpose for valuation (I don't want to help someone make a lot of money from Evilbay) this is as far as I am prepared to go. Paul

I think the best medal that came out of Russia was in the 1990's was the commemorative for the first McDonalds a truly fantastic work of art. When are they going to do a McMammoth medal (burgers made from the finest Siberian defrosted mammoth meat) or does it exist already? Paul

Mervyn The 1937 proof silver and bronze set included, crown, halfcrown, florin, English and Scottish shilling, sixpence, silver and nickel brass threepence, penny, halfpenny and farthing as well as the maundy set (4 3 2 and 1 pence). You are lacking the silver currency threepence and the maundy penny. A complete set now sells for around £250. Even with the deficiencies it should still be worth £150. All the best, Paul

Nowadays If one walked across Mitcham at night one would encounter several hooded figures armed with knives. Things don't change. Paul