paul wood

It certainly relates to the First Balkan War, could it perchance be a Chaplain's badge, presumably they had a few on the battlefield, however I have never seen one before so extremely interesting. Paul

1914 Army list only mention Trans. and OFS and states Queen's medal with 2 clasps, obviously the medal roll could confrm this or whether there is a different entitlement. Paul

Rich 1914 Army list War Services-Retired List (finished with the ASC Southern command 1909). Served in the S. African War 1902-took part in in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, May 02. Queen's medal with 2 clasps (so you need an OFS clasp). Basically turned up and went home after a few weeks. All the best, Paul

Rich, If you have the guys rank name and regiment I have all the relevant arny lists so I may be able to give you the answer. Paul

Dear Rich the clasp was issued to all troops in the transvaal any time between 24 May 1900-31 May 1902 who were ineligible for any action clasps in the Transvaal, So therefore not the whole period. IE he could have had month in 1901. Hope this helps, Paul

Unfortunately the medal itself is a copy as it does not have the engraver's signature (T. Wyon). The naming is totally in corrct it shold be officially impressed whereas this is engraved. I''m glad you didn't spend a great deal on it. If I didn't know better I would suggest that this was an ex E-Bay starting off the description with "I don't know what this is..." In future you are better to go to reputable dealers or auction houses where if something goes wrong you always have some recourse. All the best, Paul

Thanks for that what exactly is the difference between the two clasps so I don't fall into that trap again. All the best, Paul

Extremely nice, that would denote a Russo-Japanese war decoration for 1905, probably early spring. Very nice and collectable item to own. Paul

Can't quite make the number out on the 4th class St Georges Cross looks although it's not a late WWI issue. All the best, Paul

One of the medals he is wearing is a Primrose League badge. The Primrose League was founded in 1883 as a organisation for propogating the ideas of conservatism and to give it a wide grass roots appeal. It ceased to exist in the 1990s Paul

Nobody of that name on the Waterloo Roll Paul

Philomel I believe was involved in blockading Delgoa Bay area (the Transvaal's only supply port) with a number of other ships, in a vain effort ot starve the Boers. Paul

The no bar QSA to WE Brhamin is confirmed on Fevyer's roll. Paul

I have a draft of Gustav Tamman's work on the Orders and Dcorations of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. I think the original draft was about 12 years ago but it is still very useful epecially for the toughra types and the comparative rarity of issues. It would be nice if a completed work was eventually published but knownig Gustav as I do he will always keep finding extra information thus putting the publication date ever forward. Paul

I am not at all surprised at the price it made and a suspect the eventual purchaser will be delighted. I have never seen a miniature Medjidie with scimitars (considering they were only issued from 1915 in full-size they must be incredibly rare as miniatures, especially to a Turkish recipient and GENUINE scimitars on the full-sized are scarce to say the least (beware of copies)). All the best, Paul

If on the market it would certainly drain the rupee account. Paul

Other possibility is that they could be judges badges. I have seen similar things for Egypt. Paul

Just a thought, although those idle B****rs at Garrards could confirm. Could they be something like a badge for a member of the National Assembly the quality of stars denoting rank, I know some middle eastern countries had those sort of things in the pre-war years. Paul

Not Russian but Serbian. Its the 1876 Medal for Bravery for the catastrophic war against the Ottoman Empire in 1876, the obverse reads For Bravery 1876; the reverse Milan M. Obrenovich IV Prince of Serbia. Hope this helps, Paul

Very interesting contemporary military archive. Paul

There is a good write up on him in German Wikpedia. Paul

Surely if wounded he would have been entitled to a wound badge. Paul

So have I but I don't look that rough. Paul

From the photo it appears that the recipient became a member in 1870, up until 1882 the reverse were dated with year of enrollment. All the best, Paul