Raz

Here's an article from a 60th year reign anniversary magazine of the then Sultan of Johore, Sultan Ibrahim, which gives a quick mention of the Order as well as a picture. As mentioned before, I also have magazine pics of some orders being awarded but the magazine text is all in Jawi script so I will need to first get it translated to figure out what is going on. ============== Darjah Kerbat and Darjah Mahkota Johore. On 31st July 1886 Hi Highness the Late Sultan Abu Bakar had created two orders, the Darjah kerabat Yang Amat Di-Hormati, or the Most Esteemed Family Order, and the Darjah Mahkota Johore Yang Amat Mulia, or the Order of the Crown of Johore. His Highness the Late Sultan Abu Bakar was pleased to select and invest recipients for the Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat di-Hormati and the Darjah Mahkota Johore from amongst his family and also from amongst the nobles and members of the councils, as well as from high officials who ought to be recognized for their good works. ============== The article goes on to cover the Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat Di-Hormati, if anyone is interested.

As I am currently in Johor Bahru if anyone is really interested I can most probably get down to the Istana Besar museum and get pics of the collection on display....That's if they allow cameras inside.....if nobody is looking that's another story. I've also got some old pics from a 1950's magazine of the royal awards in wear someplace.

A photo from a Singapore museum showing a hoard of notes in a suitcase. The cash became totally worthless when the Japanese surrendered. Anyone lucky enough to have secreted away any Straights Settlements currency was in good position when the British came back into power. As I understand it there were also other different designs for other countries the Japanese occupied. Anyone else got any cash to show?

Here's some Japanese occupation currency given to me by a member of the RAF who had a local friend who lived through the Japanese occupation in Singapore. This cash was also nicknamed banana money. No serial numbers were used on these notes and there was a big problem with counterfeiting. Don't ask me if these are genuine notes

Great photos Bob.

Here are two flags I took snaps of whilst at 2 Singapore museums. One is a surrender flag taken by British troops at Fort Canning. The description tag said it shows the Japanese character YAMAKA, and to a relates to an ordnance unit. The meatball flag hangs at the Ford Factory museum.

Thanks for the replies guys, very interesting. Here's the Stupa erected in 1970 in honour of the Prince.

This one is an interesting one, it's the old Japanese war memorial erected along the Straits of Johore to commemorate the invasion of Singapore in 1942. After the war it was pushed into the sea and forgotten about. When workers were working in the area in recent years they rediscovered the bottom and top half of the old memorial while the central section remains lost. Australian POW's were used to construct the memorial area. It was also compulsory for school children to visit the memorial on school outings. Singapore archive photo of the memorial being visited by a German U-boat crew: http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/picas/public/inter...p;submit=Search

I recently went around the little Japanese cemetery in Johor Malaysia looking for any WW2 linked memorials. There is also a memorial to an Imperial Crown Prince of Japan, Prince Takaoka, Shinnyo Hosshinno who traveled through the jungles of Malaysia in the 13th or 14th century who was attacked and killed by a tiger. I also found a group of 3 stones which looked interesting. Here are 2 of them. I wonder if anyone can read what it says?

This truck was dumped in a car park at a seafood restaurant in Malaysia for many years. Unfortunately it has long since been scrapped. After some googling I think the truck is a Scammell? (UPDATE) Within 5 minutes of posting this I am now informed that this truck is indeed a British forces Scammell. A Pioneer Artillery tractor dating from WW2. It would have towed a 5.5" or 7.2" Howitzer.

Thanks for your answer Dave! I totally forgot I posted the question until today.

Some fantastic pieces being posted in this thread, keep it coming guys @james I don't know if it's just me imagining it now but I also seem to recall seeing a picture somewhere of a maker marked 1st or 2nd class decoration somewhere. The more common commemorative medal however had clearly a few different makers. As for the cases I have seen 2nd class examples with both round a rectangle push studs. The 1st class I've only seen with the rectangular stud.

Thanks Michael. All these military abbreviations are giving me a headache

Hi Guys I need some help on abbreviations again. This relates to armaments at a british coastal battery. What is an "L.L" and a "L.As." M.Gs I assume are machineguns?

Stan, you're correct about the material of the badge. I've also noticed other East Prussia variations out there other than the Wachtler & Lange made pieces. I've never been 100% comfortable with them. You've out gunned me Stan, I've just about run out of things to post ;-)

Thanks for posting those Stan. Here's my Gau East Prussia. I have to use the scrappy sellers old pic for now. I'll post a better one when I am able. This piece is maker marked W?chtler & Lange and serial numbered.

Stan, thanks for posting those, wonderful pieces. What else do you have in your bag of tricks? ;-) Here are my Gau Essen's. The larger aluminium Hofstatter marked rally badge and the 935 silver gau badge. Anyone have one of those great looking embroidered 1938 Gautag Essen postcard to show?

Great badges Stan! The Wartheland is always a show stopper for me.

I only just noticed your AHF post. Japanische gedenktafel http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/german_cro...her/ap/apb1.htm I had never seen that on WA site before. Note the bottom left picture. I only recently discovered where that Japanese memorial is currently at. After they surrendered locals pushed it in to the sea and it was only recently re discovered after the works dept did some dredging. You can now find the top half of it in the Japanese cemetery in Century gardens. I will have to get a pic although most days the gates are locked.

Thanks Koj. Great badge Erich.

This is a cased Gau Berlin badge in Silver grade. The badge is a lovely 41mm constructed badge made by the Lauer firm whom seem to have been the sole maker of this badge. The stickpin miniature of the badge is of equal high quality and made by the same firm. I've so far not seen another miniature example, except for one other, which was part of an amazing nine piece miniature awards chain that had been found by Toby Rowan. Not part of my collection although I wish it was, the Werner Bock group of documents, including the Gau Berlin Besitz-urkunde, as auctioned by Hermann Historica. This grouping I believe has since been broken up.

Lets see whatever you have relating to Gau badges including pics of these badges in wear etc. Here are 2 of my most prized sets. The Gau Thuringen badge set. Recently acquired from a well respected US collector. I also have an award document for the Gau Thuringen badge that I will post a pic of when I get the chance.

It's a first for me as well. Impressive find.

I've just started researching an uncle of mine who was a POW. He was captured in Singapore then sent to work on the death railways. This is the only pic I currently have of him, what kind of uniform is he wearing, looks tropical to me?

That badge was on the Snyders Treasures website for sometime. I have not seen another dated Gau Baden of any grade in this styel and because of that date bar I would be wary as well of that modification without supporting documentation. I have however seen engraved dates to the reverse of badges. If my memory is correct the reverse of the date bar lacks much noticeable tarnish as compared to the obverse of the bar as well as to the main badge itself.