jshorter

Does anyone know if there is any variation in the thickness of Stars? I have 2 Burma, 1 Italy, & 1 Africa Star that are the exact same thickness, but I have another Italy Star that is about 3/4 the thickness of all of the others. The other thing about the odd Italy Star is the loop at the top of the medal, where the ribbon ring is attached, is much smaller than the others (all of which have the same size loops). What does anyone think? Otherwise, the features between the 2 Italy Stars are exactly the same.

Thanks!

Jason

Excellent! Thank you all! :cheeky:

Hi Everyone!

I have an India General Service Medal with "NORTH WEST FRONTIER 1930 - 31" clasp named to: "7798 SEP. SURJAN SINGH. 1-11 SIKH R."

I was wondering if someone could tell me what the abbreviations, etc., meant in the naming of the medal?

Thanks again!!

Jason

I had Mike at North East Medals look at it and he said my Burma Star was authentic. He said it had had a very rough life, and that it at one time had been cleaned with something that caused some chemical etching, etc.

Jason

The poor quality of the pearls in the crown and the dimpled appearance of the back with blobs at end of each point I would suggest a caste copy.

This one sold to me as an original, by a reputable dealer. The medal appears to have been dropped and banged around as there are several dings and the ends have been dented, hence the "blobs" at the end of the points. The back is scratched up giving it the rough appearance to the reverse.

Hi everyone!!

How can you tell the difference between an original WWII Star, and a copy/fake/reproduction?

Thanks!

Jason

Here is my Burma Star......

Tons (almost literally) of unnamed ones have come out of Pakistan in recent years.

Ed,

I assume the ones from Pakistan are reproductions? Is there a way to tell the difference between the original issued ones, and these coming from Pakistan?

Thanks!

Jason

I am answering this asuming you mean ww1 medals. The answer is the recipients unit. The commonwealth issued medals to its troops that appeared exactly the same as their British counter parts the only feature being different is the unit naming.

For WWI, I knew there was a way to tell from the imprinted text, but is there a list of what each of these mean? How can you tell for medals that are not WWI era?

Thanks! :-)

Jason

Here are some photos of the medals in question.

Hi Everyone,

Since I am so new to collecting British medals, I do have to ask the question of how you tell if an award was issued to a Canadian, New Zealander, Briton, etc.? Beyond a medal specifically being of that country's design, what should I look for?

Thanks!!

Jason

The closest I can find in "Ancestrys" Service Records is a John Stirling Dickson, enlisted 1915 aged 18, born about 1897, of 31, Hampden Street, Walton, Liverpool, a member of RAMCT Western General Hospital, Fazakesley:

http://content.ancestry.co.uk/iexec/?htx=V...&pid=540189

Thanks for the help! There is no way to tell for sure if this is the same person or not, is there?

Jason

Hello Jason,

Actually, 344116 is his Service Number. It shows what medals he is entitled to. Victory confirms your Victory Medal. It looks like he has a British War Medal out there somewhere Noted next to "British". Congrats on finding the document!!!

Doc

Hi Doc,

Actually, I do have the British War Medal and am missing the Victory Medal.

What does the "101 B41 2919" on the card mean? I know the 2919 is a page number, but what else?

Thanks!

Jason

Hi again, everyone!

I am running into a snag on this group. It is named set of the British War Medal, & the Victory Medal. The imprinted name on both is: "402620 PTE. 1. A.E. SHORTER. R.A.F.".

Again, any help is greatly appreciated!! :-)

Jason

Hi Everyone!

With the help I have received so far, I have found that the stamp "344116 PTE.J.S.DICKSON. R.A.M.C." on the 1914-1918 British War Medal I have stands for: Private John S. Dickson, Regiment 344116, with the Royal Army Medical Corp

But, that is all I can find using the record searches I am familiar with. Also, the only document I could find is listed below. From that, is there anything else anyone can tell me about this person, or how I can find more of their army records? What does the rest of the document refer to?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason

Knowing what medal it is would help us go beyiond Chris' excellent introduction.

It is the British War Medal

Hi everyone!

I am becoming very interested in British medals and was wondering if someone could direct me to a website were you can research the recipients of these awards? I have a medal that is engraved "344116 PTE.J.S.DICKSON. R.A.M.C." and would like to find our more.

Thanks a bunch!!

Jason

Here are more photos of the Member of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn.

Jason

Hi Hugh,

I just dsplayed them in the best arrangement for the case, and one that was the most visually pleasant.

Jason

Thanks, Megan!

I should add labels to these for those of you not too familar with Thai OMD. Here they are starting, in the upper left corner and working to the right:

1. Commemorative Medal on the Occasion of the Elevation of H. R. H. Princess Sirindhorn to the Title of "Princess Maha Chakri"
2. Victory Medal for World War II
3. Chakra Mala Medal
4. Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
5. Serving Free People Medal
6. Member of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
7. Border Service Medal
8. Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
9. Chakrabarti Mala Medal
10. Victory Medal for the Vietnam War
11. Commander (Ladies) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
12. King Vajiravudh's Rajaruchi Medal
13. King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Coronation Medal
14. Freemen Safeguarding Medal - 2nd. class, category 2
15. 25th. Buddhist Century Celebration Medal
16. Commemorative Medal on the Occasion of the 6th. Cycle Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit
17. Red Cross Medal of Appreciation - 3rd. class
18. Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
19. King Vajiravudh's Royal Cypher Medal - 3rd. class
20. Member of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn
21. Commemorative Medal of H. R. H. Prince Vajiralongkorn's Investiture as Crown Prince

1. Commemorative Medal (Ladies) on the Occasion of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Reign
2. Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
3. Silver Jubilee Medal (Ladies) of B. E. 2514
4. Silver Medal of the Crown of Thailand
5. Silver Medal of the White Elephant
6. Victory Medal for the Korean War

I finally sat down this afternoon and mounted the display case of my Thai Orders & Medals. I still have 6 more medals that wouldn't fit in this case. Oh well, that just means I have to get some more medals to fill another one!!

Jason

red dust jacket, picture of several royals in uniform on the front?

Mine has a clear plastic dust jacket, but the book cover itself is dark blue with a gold printed image of the 2nd. class Order of White Elephant with Thai text in gold under the order.

Jason

Hi Hugh!

I think I have the same book as you. I was able to get it from Thailand, and it is the hard cover book from the Secretariat of the Cabinet. Of course, all in Thai (except the titles of the Orders & Medals), but at least the photos are 1:1 ratio, and very nice to look at. Now, if someone can read it....

Jason

Thanks!!! Here is what my contact in Bangkok has told me about it. I had to ask as there is very little I could find in English about the Rajaruchi medals.

"Rajaruchi medal has two categories, silver and silver with gold plated. The medal was first established in the reign of King Rama V in 1897, purposely to grant to anyone inside the palace who closely served for the King. It is the King's discretion only, whoever has this medal, must has been working very closely to the King, it doesn't mean a senior staff but could be a driver, lady in waiting or even senior members of royal family. It is really limited medal granted by the King. This medal was established by King Rama V, VI, VII and IX only. Not in the reign of King Rama VIII. Details on the medal is similarly to the King Rama V's medal. The sculpture of King Rama VI and his name by the edge of the medal by one side, another side stated the Royal term as ราชรุจิยา ทินนมิท, it means that "This medal was granted at his (the King) pleasure"."

Jason

Sorry, but this is one I just HAD to show everyone!! It will be on its way to me shortly!

King Vajiravudh's (Rama IV) Rajaruchi Medal from Thailand.

Jason