paul wood

Based on the link I still don't like the numbers. It is possible that the engraver could have been on mega strength tractor fuel the night before but overall I think the badge poses more questions than answers. My feeling is there are genuine elements but some "enhancement". Personally I would wait for a better example to turn up. Paul

Ahmed, welcome to GMIC It is the Hussein al Kamil issue 1917-22, no clasp, which means that he did not participate in any of the campaigns in as a combatant. Is the piece unnamed or does it have Arabic numerals on the edge? Paul

The Order he is wearing is slightly different from the illustration above. It is a Civil Division, Pre 1905 Second class set, with Oscar I monogram. Now to find British recipients of the Order probably 1880s or 90's who participated in the Indian Mutiny, although with a no clasp medal it is always possible he was a civilian. Paul

I don't like the number on it, looks unofficial to me. Paul

Superb, what a lovely thing, I suppose it comes under the label of pattern or trial piece. A nice find. Paul

It is a municipal badge which bears the municipal arms, possibly a local councillors badge. Paul

Christer, It is the Royal Household Medal, Albert I, second class, for foreign recipients, instituted February 3 1910. Paul

Mind you that "pheasant" would look good in my bath tub especially if it were yellow. Paul

A very nice pre-Great War Knight's breast badge, the workmanship from this period is of the highest quality. Paul

Ilieff, Well done, a lovely site which I am sure involved a lot of blood, sweat and tears. A first rate job. Paul

Basically these are generally speaking Great War issues when the gold was needed for the war effort. The same is true with most German Imperial Orders. Paul

Thank you hence the superior quality. Paul

That is lovely and seriously rare. Paul

Countersigned by Martin Coles Harman, certainly. Paul 10 Tierra del Fuego Julius Popper pesos also accepted Paul

A nice accompaniment to the Order of Karl XIII Paul

A private manufacture to match a gold Serbian Milosh Obolich? Paul

1,000 Lundy Island puffin coins are also accepted as payment. Paul

I believe they are with a collector in North London with Sikh leanings. Paul

Igor Baron Schmidt von der Launitz, was apparently born in Riga in 1910 and founded the so called Imperial Order of St George , apparently founded by Constantine the Great. The family heralded from Russian Imperial Officer stock. I believe his so called Order is that displayed on the left. With the bestowal document it is quite amusing. I wonder how much the vain individual parted with in order to satisfy his sense of importance and to keep von der Launitz in the style he wished to be accustomed to. At least it is of some age rather than the modern abominations which spring up by the bucket load. I think I will create the Order of the Inebriated Toad of Tabaristan and I will make a special, generous, membership offer to GMIC members of £1,000 in used notes. Paul

Thanks Michael, Sam, Might be worth speaking to them, at least they would be most likely to show interest. Paul

I would have thought that a Halifax museum might well be interested in doing a display for the centenary of the explosion. Is there a suitable venue in Halifax Michael? Paul

It is a pity he did not engrave his name and number on the back then it would have had considerable research potential but still a beautiful medal. Paul

Samantha I have found out a lot about him. He later exchanged his Albert Medal for a George Cross in the 1960s. As he served in Submarines his Albert medal is with the Submarine Museum. In his biography it says that he could read, write and speak Mandarin and in 1927 he was involved in tracking down pirates around the waters of Hong-Kong China and Sarawak, subsequently he joined the Merchant Navy with whom he served until invalided out with the rank of Lt. Cmdr. in 1943. After the War he commanded 365 Unit Sea Cadets in Cheshire from 20 years. His full medal entitlement Albert Medal (bronze sea), later exchanged fro the George Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, 1939-45 War Medal, 1977 Jubilee and Cadets Forces medal, he died in Caernarvon in October 1978. Paul

He received the Albert medal, here is the citation. The KING has further been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Albert Medal for gallantry in saving life at sea to Leading Seaman Thomas N. Davis, O.N. J.18334 (Dev.), and Able Seaman Robert Stones, O.N. J.29998 (Dev.). On the 6th December, 1917, the French steamer "Mont Blanc," with a cargo of high explosives, and the Norwegian steamer "Imo," were in collision in Halifax Harbour. Fire broke out on the "Mont Blanc" immediately after the collision, and the flames very quickly rose to a height of over 100 feet. The crew abandoned their ship and pulled to the shore. A few minutes later a tremendous explosion took place, and the tug "Musquash" was seen to be on fire forward. The fire was increasing, and there appeared to be a great danger of her getting adrift, and being carried down on to another vessel. As the "Musquash" had a gun and ammunition on board there was danger of a further explosion and consequent loss of life. The Captain of H.M.S. "Highflyer" hailed a private tug and asked her to take the "Musquash" in tow, but as they were unwilling to board the "Musquash " to get her in tow, the tug was brought alongside H.M.S. "Highflyer.'' Leading Seaman Davis and Able Seaman Stones immediately volunteered, and having been transferred by the tug to the burning "Musquash," which had by this time broken adrift, they secured a line from her stern, by means of which she was towed into midstream. The line then parted, and Davis and Stones passed another line from the "Musquash" to the pumping lighter "Lee," which had now arrived. They then both went forward to the burning part, and succeeded in getting to the ammunition, which was by this time badly scorched, pulled it away from the flames and threw it overboard. They then broke open the door of the galley, which was on fire inside, to enable the "Lee" to play her hoses into it. They repeated the same thing with the cabin. By their work they made it possible to subdue the fire and save further damage and loss of life. At any moment whilst they were on board the "Musquash " the ammunition might have exploded. Also Service Papers which shows he entered the Chinese customs service on leaving the Navy in 1927. He served during the second war in the Merchant Navy and would have received WWII as well as the Albert Medal and WWI medals he had already received. I hope this is of help. Paul

Denture cleaner such as Steradent tablets can get rid of gunge and dirt and in the case of some of the Islamic coins I buy what I suspect to be camel droppings. Paul