paul wood

The one below the EK1 looks very much like the Mecklenburg war cross. Paul

Dear Artan, Thank you for this most interesting group of posts, the Wied and Zog period awards are very difficult to get specific details about, there is a very limited amount of published material (certainly in English) and the more information you can give us concerning these relatively short lived Orders and Decorations is more than welcome. By the by can you tell me how (without warrants) one can distinguish between pre Italian occupation and exile pieces. Anything you can give us will be most welcome, Paul

I gather from the Today programme on radio 4 that they are going to be digitalised, a process which should take around 4 years but I gather the WW2 records will take many many years and only the younger members of this forum wiull be around when that happens. They also have a lot of unpublished place and date of death and burial locations. Paul Paul

I have a very nice RIAF pair to a Squadron Leader Joseph Kenneth Frank Pereira, Joined 12/9/43. Commanded balloon squadron in S. E. Asia (medal & clasp) and India Independence (both named Squadron Leader).One of the jewels of my collection. Paul

Guard of honour I assume to welcome all the bigwigs who were travelling on the inaugural journey of "the lunatic express". An excellent photograph and extremely well found. Paul

The main reference for these items is Frank W. Groves Medals of Mexico Vol. III, 1974, IBSN 0-88242-005-4 Cruz de Toluca 19 June 1821; Cruz de Azcapotzalco, Ist, 2nd and 3rd class 19 August 1821; Medal for the Siege of Durango 30 August-3 September 1821; Cruz de Independencia, Triple Garantia 1a Epocha (2 varieties) Medal of the same in silver and bronze 2 varieities Spanish and Latin legends; Medal for 2a Epocha, 2 varieties as before, silver and bronze; Cruz de Veracruz 27 October 1822 (authorised 1840); Cruz de Uluia 25 September 1823-23 November 1825, two varieties one authorises 1840 (also Spanish silver medal for the action) Tampico Medal 1829, gold, silver and bronze. Hope this helps, Paul

A dutch silver guarantee mark, All the best, Paul

The closest I can come to is Riga or possibly Magdeburg. Paul

I have virtually no knowledge of daggers but it appears to be a most attractive piece, what period is it from, Horthy Regency? Also is it genuine. It is the sort of thing if I saw at a military fair for under ?100 I would be tempted. Paul

Roeland, I can see that the hallmark is the small Dutch guarantee mark, post 1953 I can't work out what the smaller mark is. My guess is it is a protestant unofficial knightly order. It has almost Johanniter like looks. Hope you get more positive information, Paul

A friend of mine brought in a badge which he had found in the back of a fireplace he was repairing sometime ago. The badge which is about 75 mm long and which appears to be silver or silver alloy comprises a crossed ski and ice pick with an eidelweiss flower surmounted on the centre, the flower bears the inscription "Ski Heil" and the back appears to have a makers mark on the reverse which owing to its size and my myopic vision I wasn't totally certain about it but I believe was something like DRGM, the back has a double pin similar to that which one would have on a cap badge. To my friend it is of great sentimental value as it was the only interesting thing he found when renovating his house and so he is reluctant to let me have custody of it but I wonder if any forum members have any idea as to its exact status. Thanking you in advance, Paul

SG stands for silver-gilt, the hallmark is london 1919. Hope this helps, Paul

If you PM me with your address then I can quite happilly do photocopies of the relevant books. Hope this is of help, All the best, Paul

All but the military bit. He was gazetted a 2nd Lt. The Captain which he is listed as in the handbook of the Order of the British Empire is probably 1921, a promotion he probably would have received after the war as he was a volunteer force officer but you are spot on with the rest. As he was home (Indian) based he would have just received the British War Medal rather than the British War and Victory Medal. All the best, Paul

I totally agree. I have always though in general the type 2 insignia (IE post 1935) to be less aesthetically pleasing. The most beautiful piece of insignia of the Order (in my opinion) is the short lived medal of the British Empire, many of which were given to French or Belgian civilian recipients who assisted the allies during the Great War. Paul

CBE is an error sorry brain not working it should be CIE Paul

Ferguson was gazetted a 2nd Lieut in the Punjab Light Horse 6 September 1918, O.B.E. New Years Honours 1919. He arrived in India in 1904 having qualified in the exams of 1903. He was upgraded to C.B.E. Kings Birthday Honours 1935 (Indian Civil Service Commissioner Rawalpindi division, Punjab). Also entitled to C.I.E. haven't been able to get a date (See India Civil List 1934) also on the Indian Silver Jubilee medal roll. He would have one named B.W.M. also. So not a bad O.B.E. to own. All the best, Paul

Dear Josef, Thank you very much for the most useful information. Paul

I would suggest Civil War Period. Some of the White armies had disbanded German soliers attached. Could be one of them. Paul

O my god I will be getting loads of calls of people who will be so dissapointed when they discover they are not worth ?10,000s of pounds. The off side to working in coins and medals, sedative please. Paul

Thanks for the interesting information genetlemen. Paul

Two possibilities, either a trial piece working with different dimensions or conceivebly a partially finished example. Paul

I have the honour to own one named to a saddler attached to Indian Service Corps. Paul

I didn't know you were an ancient corporal. All the best, Paul