paul wood

They were never issued with a ribbon, Mervyn's example is as issued (possibly attached to the swimming trunks) Paul

Mervyn, Its the Royal Life Saving Society's medal for swimming proficiency. Paul

Mervyn, Its the Royal Life Saving Society's medal for swimming proficiency. Paul

The reverse looks decidedly unofficial to me. Paul

The Imperial issues are known in 30 and 28 mm. however the quality looks quite good am wondering whether it is a White Russian award 1918-20 hence the size variation. Paul

Reminds me of the story told by my school religious studies teacher in the 1970's who had been a Military Chaplain. He evidently was going to be on the first wave of the land invasion of Japan which was "Operation Certain Death". When he heard that Japan had surrendered after the Nagasaki bomb he definitely was most grateful that the bombs had given him a further lease of life although he was shocked by the horrific results of the weapons. Paul

Not hugely valuable I would have thought no more than £40-50 , although some of the Iron Cross buffs here can give you chapter and verse. All the best Paul

1914 Iron Cross Second Class by H. J. Wilm of Jerusalemstrasse Berlin. Paul

London Gazette 22 September 1919 Page 11779 "...in recognition of valuable services rendered with the British Forces in Mesopotamia." In 1919 UK army list as Temporary Warrant Officer ASC, Supply and Transport, Temporary Rank from 3 March 1915. Page 2285C. Possibly seconded to the Indian Army so you may be able to find out more about him. Doesn't appear in later army lists so presumably discharged after the war. All the best, Paul

Indian Supply and Transport Corps according to the Gazette. Not in the 1924 Indian Army War Services List nor in the 1919 IAL. All the best, Paul

Nice with original riband, quite hard to find thus. Paul

School of Ensigns of the Engineer troops in Petrograd, Provisional Government issue (Patrikeev Vol. I, 1.7.31) While pretty poor quality it looks OK to me and is quite a rare item I would have thought has to be worth at least $1000 All the best, Paul

Acting Conductor of Supplies, senior NCO in the ASC and STC Paul

Mervyn, if you look especially on the C to I of VICTORIA you can see a slightly oval lighter patch, it is not so clear in the photo of the opposite side but still evidence. A skilled jeweller, and I speak from experience, can replace a claw as if it was never removed. All the best, Paul

Somethings happened to the left and right of the bust which to me looks like a very skilful repair of a brooching. I have seen similar pieces after a well known British repairer has dealt with them. Paul

Looks OK to me but appears at some stage to have been brooch-mounted (not an uncommon occurrence) and somewhat tidied up. Named or unnamed? Paul

M J Goudsmit, Den Haag Rijksmunt (Dutch Royal Mint) A Moussalt Amsterdam J. M. J. van Wielik, Den Haag Might also be worth contacting the Het Loo museum of Orders in the Netherlands, in Apeldoorn they are very nice and may have some archive material. Hope this helps. All the best, Paul

I absolutely concur with Owain as to identification. Mind you one of the most degraded toughras I have seen. Paul

Providing they are in good condition I would reckon between £800 and £1,500 depending on the maker and quality. if damaged less. All the best, Paul All the best

Couple of cracking groups, I know people who would kill for either of them. Paul

An image and makers details would be helpful as there are many varieties of 2nd Empire breast stars and prices can vary greatly. All the best, Paul

They can be very interesting as well. I have a friend in the prison service who is in charge of a small private museum at Wandsworth. He collects ISMs to Prison officers and with his research abilities he has bought some amazing ones, including some to officers who were commended for helping put down prison riots and break-outs and some who had interesting previous military service. Not bad for a small amount of money. All the best, Paul

Mervyn, William Stephenson, LG 26/10/62 (assistant Supervisor, Staines). All the best, Paul

21923 is Guatemala, I can smell the Quetzal from here. Sun and Liberty cap on pole Argentina, Sun can also be Peru. All the best, Paul

Alex I have seen this type of surround on a fake Wei Pei Fu Bravery Medal in the form of a star which I saw about a year after this sale, the colours are Eerily identical. I agree they started flooding in the market in 2007 but I suspect that they were producing them some time prior. I know that the dangerous (rather than wouldn't fool an inebriated blindman) coin fakes started surfacing around 2003-2004. I am as sure as a can be that the piece in the Swiss sale is a copy, ideal for theatrical purposes. All the best, Paul