paul wood

I have checked the hard copy just to be sure but alas no picture. Paul

Avsar, Thank you so much. Paul

Avsar, do you have illustrations of silver mark toughras for other sultans? All the best, Paul

Should read AUS EROBERTEM GESCHUTZ (From captured cannon) All the best, Paul

Very nice, what a marvellous combination of award and document, given what followed I suspect the survival rate for these documents is quite low compared to the large numbers issued. Paul

Steve, without images of the pieces it's impossible to give you an opinion, especially as there have been copies of these pieces made for over 60 years. Decent images of both sides should be able to give you an answer. Paul

Harry, thanks for the download, I see O'Dwyer (of the Caxton Hall murder fame) was involved in the foreward. For your info. I enclose the write up from DNWs sale of 7 December 2005 (his father's medals were also included in the auction). As he died in 1950 suspect no later than WWII when there was quite a lot fun occuring on the NWF An interesting ‘Afghanistan 1919’ C.I.E., ‘Waziristan’ Civil C.B.E., and ‘North West Frontier’ Military O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Bruce, C.S.I., C.I.E., C.B.E., Indian Political Department The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, C.I.E., Companion’s 3rd type neck badge, gold and enamels; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 1st type neck badge; O.B.E. (Military) 1st type breast badge; China 1900, no clasp (Lieutt. C. E. Bruce, 26th Baluch Infy.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj. C. E. Bruce); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1921-24 (Maj. C. E. Brues, Pol. Dept.) note garbled spelling of surname on this; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed, the last six on original court mounting as worn, good very fine (8) £1200-1500 Footnote O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 22 March 1919: Military operations on the North West Frontier of India. C.I.E. London Gazette 3 August 1920: Military operations in Afghanistan. C.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 3 June 1925: For services as Deputy Commissioner, Dera Ismail Khan, N.W. Province. C.S.I. London Gazette 1 March 1929. M.I.D. London Gazette 30 April 1919 (North West Frontier), 14 May 1920 (North West Frontier), and 12 April 1921 (Afghanistan). Charles Edward Bruce was born on 23 March 1876, third son of Richard Isaac Bruce (see Lot 378). Educated at Wellington College and R.M.C. Sandhurst, he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as 2nd Lieutenant in 1896, and transferred to the Indian Army the following year, being posted to the 24th Baluchistan Regiment. He served in China with a draft of the 24th, attached to the 26th Baluchis, at Pekin in 1900 (Medal), and later took part in the operations on the North West Frontier against the Darwesh Khel Wazirs in 1902.He served on the North West Frontier during the Great War, with the Marri Punitive Force from March to June 1918 (O.B.E.). He served in Afghanistan and on the North West Frontier in 1919 (despatches, C.I.E.), and in Waziristan in 1923 (despatches twice, C.B.E.) and again, as Officiating Resident, in 1926 (C.S.I.). His last appointment was as A.G.G. and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan, 1930. Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce died in England on 24 January 1950. All the best, Paul An interesting ‘Afghanistan 1919’ C.I.E., ‘Waziristan’ Civil C.B.E., and ‘North West Frontier’ Military O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Bruce, C.S.I., C.I.E., C.B.E., Indian Political Department The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, C.I.E., Companion’s 3rd type neck badge, gold and enamels; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 1st type neck badge; O.B.E. (Military) 1st type breast badge; China 1900, no clasp (Lieutt. C. E. Bruce, 26th Baluch Infy.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj. C. E. Bruce); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1921-24 (Maj. C. E. Brues, Pol. Dept.) note garbled spelling of surname on this; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed, the last six on original court mounting as worn, good very fine (8) £1200-1500 Footnote O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 22 March 1919: Military operations on the North West Frontier of India. C.I.E. London Gazette 3 August 1920: Military operations in Afghanistan. C.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 3 June 1925: For services as Deputy Commissioner, Dera Ismail Khan, N.W. Province. C.S.I. London Gazette 1 March 1929. M.I.D. London Gazette 30 April 1919 (North West Frontier), 14 May 1920 (North West Frontier), and 12 April 1921 (Afghanistan). Charles Edward Bruce was born on 23 March 1876, third son of Richard Isaac Bruce (see Lot 378). Educated at Wellington College and R.M.C. Sandhurst, he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as 2nd Lieutenant in 1896, and transferred to the Indian Army the following year, being posted to the 24th Baluchistan Regiment. He served in China with a draft of the 24th, attached to the 26th Baluchis, at Pekin in 1900 (Medal), and later took part in the operations on the North West Frontier against the Darwesh Khel Wazirs in 1902.He served on the North West Frontier during the Great War, with the Marri Punitive Force from March to June 1918 (O.B.E.). He served in Afghanistan and on the North West Frontier in 1919 (despatches, C.I.E.), and in Waziristan in 1923 (despatches twice, C.B.E.) and again, as Officiating Resident, in 1926 (C.S.I.). His last appointment was as A.G.G. and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan, 1930. Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce died in England on 24 January 1950.

Michael you are absolutely correct in what you say but these ribbons would not have been available in 1940 which is when the photo was apparently taken, they were permitted for wear much later in the war. All the best, Paul

Ah the scary shiny back comes back to haunt us. Paul

In 1940 there were, with the exception of gallantry awards and decorations, no ribbons relating to the second world war (this did not happen until after the event). Is it possible that your relative had seen previous military service such as in the Great War (Many WWI veterans re-enlisted). An image of the photo, even if indistinct could be of assistance. Paul

Thanks for your kind your reply. Poincare was prime minister a year prior (1912 (a great year my father was born then)). He was strongly anti German and was very supportive of Joffre and the French military in planning for a future conflict with them (althought military assumption were based on a conflict occuring in 1916 or 17). While prime minister and later president he was a very strong supporter of the Russian alliance (and through various methods of bullying was able to get the Quai d' Orsay on board). I believe Russia would have been less likely to have so actively pursued the policies they did post 2nd Balkan war they had not had the full backing of the French government. Poincares visit to France in July 1914 was the final stamp of approval. If you want an amusing read the French ambassador to Russia, Palaeologue's memoirs, which although somewhat egocentric give a flavour of events of Poincare's visit. Paul

Austria, Province of Styria or Stiermark, one of the Austrian contingent will give you the exact nature of the award. Paul

Thanks Harry, do you have a rough date for this picture. Paul

Rare miniature but excerable reverse. Paul

Thanks Nick, The lateral side of my brain had gone to sleep, thank you for the compliment. Paul

Nick Marvellous picture, do you think it is a Great War or a Civil War period photo. If Civl War it would probably make more sense of the second 1st Class, especially as the cossacks were major players and a lot of decorations were awarded during the period. Civil war decorations as you know are extremely interesting but also a potentiial mine field. Maybe someone one day will publish a definitive work on the series. Maybe I'm being thick but where do the crutches come in. Paul

Nick Third attempt at trying to reply (nothing to do with GMIC) I have a new computer which is possessed by Satan. More info, is the 5th award a second award of the First Class Cross, if so must be horrendously rare (until certain members of the Russian trade miraculously try to reproduce it). Look forward to hearing. All the best, Paul

From my point of view I would respectfully agree to differ. When I am researching an historical event I attempt to strip away the veneer of interpretations placed at a later time and try and see events as they were viewed at the time, surprisingly I often find it makes more sense of the later events than current interpretatons. While later events are bound to creep in ones thoughts it is often instructive to try and eliminate them and get back to the time of the event There are many schools of historical thought (just as each religion has its miriad of sects) and they all have their followers and validity and there are those who would disagree with my views wholeheartedly. If you ever get bored and want a really good belly laugh, many years ago there was a (spoof) critique of Winnie the Pooh. The Christian and Marxist interpretations are a real scream, alas I don't have it any more, like many books I owned I lent it to some one many years ago and that was the last I ever saw of it. If any one can locate it I would love to read it again. All the best, Paul

If me memory serves me well section 19 involves quarrels and disturbances not involving insubordination to officers but I may be wrong.

If circumstances, especially the the warlike policies of Poincare and post 1913 Russia, had not conspired to cause Sarajevo to escalate into global conflict. Sarajevo would have become (and very nearly did) the 3rd Balkan War and had that been the case, it would have been little more than an incident in 20th century history which apart from a few people specifically interested in Balkan history would have merited little study, like the 2nd Balkan war it would have gone into the sideshow shelf. While there is a lot of good points made in the previous post one should be careful of looking at events with a hindsight which the protoagonists of the time did not possess. All the best, Paul

And lets not forget the the RHA. Paul

Here is a list of the BMP medals in my collection. Hopefully within the next month I will be able to get images of the pieces (work permitting "laborare morire est"). IGS 1854, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-87, Burma 1887-89 (Sepoy Bugga Singh, Mily Police Bn. Pyinmana) IGS 1854, 2 clasps, Chin-Lushai 1889-90, Lushai 1889-92 (Havr. Sueraj Chattu, Surma Valley Mil. Police) IGS 1854, 3 clasps, Burma, 1885-87. 1887-89, 1889-92 (1066 Pte. Jowala Singh 11 Yamethin Mily. Police Bn) IGS 1854, 1 clasp, Chin Hills 1889-92 (565 Indar Schwebo Mil. Police Bn.) IGS 1854, 1 clasp, Kachin Hills (1666 Sepoy Hazara Singh, Chin Levy Mil. Police) IGS 1854, no clasp (but Kachin Hills entitlement) (2161 Pte Shah Hussain B.M. Police) B.W.M. (Mochi Sundar Singh Myit Bn. B.M.P) Victory Medal (Gunkahar Singh, C.H. Bn. B.M.P.) The no clasp Kachin Hills is an amusing tale. It was in the DNW December 2007 auction with clasp, I was the underbidder, it was bought by a dealer who needed a Kachin Hills class to complete a very expensive officers group. After he had removed the clasp he gave me the medal as a gift, which means I am hoping one day a Kachin Hills clasp will appear on the market so I can restore it to its former glory. If any member ever sees or hears of one I will be eternally grateful. All the best, Paul

Really nice pair of miniatures, can you give me details of the marks on the reverse of the badges. All the best Paul

Thanks for that, interesting, a narrative photo album, I will have to see if I can download the book listed at the back "Dogs for a Hot Climate" I bet that's a right rivetting read. Paul

Surely even some of the more moronic E-bay trawlers wouldn't fall for that. Paul