paul wood

Michael thanks for the info most helpful. Paul

Lots 92-95 are now withdrawn Paul

Thank you Michael, Unfortunately Rockwood bought them from a supposed reputable source and as I had to go in for an operation on the 17th October I didn't have the time to properly check them. I will probably withdraw them as they are quite dangerous. Many thanks again, Paul

Megan Invaluable in the next few days Paul

Dear Paul and Hoyden. Paul. An Italian gold 20 lire of either Victor Emanuel II or Umberto I will be the nearest at around 21.5-22mm, can be purchased at little more than scrap in average condition, there is an Irish coin in gold that would fit, it is a gold pistole from the great rebellion of the 1640s but you would not get any change out of $100,000 and the chance of finding one is slim to say the least. Hoyden An Irish republic shilling of 1928-66 is 23.5mm, quite nice it has a harp one side and a bull the other, or alternatively a 19th century Italian 1 lire will also do the trick. All the best, Paul

This link should work a bit better. http://www.mortonandeden.com/auctions.htm Paul

Try http://www.mortonandeden.com/auctions.htm That should work better Paul

You used to get 25 miles to a litre of industrial strength vodka with the average Russian soldier. Paul

There is a problem free piece with (for what it is worth) a McDaniel Certificate in a certain London Auction of 26 November, Lot 334, estimated at a similar figure. Paul

Thanks Nick, I see now that it is a very poor quality piece based loosely on an Austro Hungarian 4 Ducats. Bulgaria (and Yugoslavia) also produced official gold 4 ducats and as you are aware there are the "Alexander II" Gypsy imitations. These coins were very popular among the Gypsy community for wedding dresses and examples from the Balkans are 99.9% of the time pierced. Thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction. Paul

In my view all spammers should receive a mandatory death sentence. Form of execution hanging by their computer wires. Paul

A Chinese bidder not paying, unheard of Paul

I have only just looked at the post and I must admit I am not very happy with numbering on the back, it looks considerably cruder than that which one normally encounters and unless there is evidence of similarly stamped HSUs of around this number then I would to tend avoid like the plague. Paul

So unlike the British colonies the Italian colonies did not publish gazettes (such as the Sudanese Gazette Straits Settlements Gazette &c). So there was never an Eritrean Gazette (even though Italy controlled it for 50 odd years). It seems the Italians lacked the bureaucratic obsession of the British. Paul

I have seen in Rome (I can't remember where possibly the wedding cake) Regimental standards with Al Valores attached to them. Paul

Peter, For example LG 30/4/18 page 5156 lists a L.H. Smith as Temp 2nd Lt (on probation) RFC as of 20 Feb 1918 have not trawled gazettes fully but he is possibly your man as by the end of the war he would have been a Lt RAF. Hope this helps. Paul

Norman my answer was based on the premise of the first post which stated that no medals were being awarded for any campaigns. While I except that Transkei and Basuto campaigns were in no way related to the First Boer War they dis take place during the same period and a medal (albeit belatedly) was issued. Paul

What I know is it was 2,000 Sanussi tribesmen against 450 Italian forces but the Sanussi came second and the started making washing machines (no that's Zanussi). Paul

Chris, The native troop al Valores were awarded in relatively small numbers and very rarely appear on the market. While I have encountered large numbers of the ordinary al Valores over 35 years I have never handled a native issue and I suspect they were extremely hard earned, especially the silvers (and I suspect many of the silver issues ended up either being melted down or quite severely damaged (anyone who has encountered Great War medals to Africans in the British service will concur that they often look as if they have passed through a goat's digestive tract). Given that an ordinary al Valore from this period will make quite a good sum, certainly several hundreds of pounds. This example is very rare and in good condition and I suspect that there would be several interested parties were such a piece to appear on the market. Paul

Peter, I accept what you say about Indian units, although I have never yet come across a casualty named to a post 22 unit. I suspect he is a different L.H. Smith (not a hugely uncommon name), who survived the war and had previously served either with the RNAS or RFC. I have yet to come across a pre-1918 casualty named to the RFC, they were always named to the unit you were with at the time of death and in 1917 he could not have been RAF. Paul

Even if he died before going abroad he should still be on the CWGC site and certainly in Soldiers that Died. Paul

Basically I suspect he was the offspring of an Italian and a local lady and as such he would not be considered truly Italian, although he knew what side his bread buttered. Paul

Barachi is a relatively common Italian surname, so I suspect Cafsa is his first name and maybe a product of mixed Italian-native relationship. Paul

Definitely Russian but a commemorative jeton which cost a few kopecks at the time issued to commemorate some noteworthy figure. Paul

Cant find him on the CWGC, I have had this before. You need to get hold of a copy of Soldiers who died for the RFA, I have had occasion where a person is not listed on the CWGC but is listed in the relevant volume of soldiers who died. Paul