JamesM

Hi Frank, That's what I'd now like to find out! Trident militaria has the medal in to different metals, as in stamped steel and I think silver. If I know the number, then it'd be nice to get it put on the medal. Cheers, James

Hi Frank, I'm not worried if it is an original or not and I don't think my relative is either. But, what I am now wondering is can the number that would have been his medal be found?? I have seen one or two sites that have reproduction medals, and, there might be the chance that they could have the number put on to it. It would just be nice to have it as complete as possible for any further generations. At least that is what I would like, so I'm also making the same assumption for my cousin as well. Cheers, James

Anyone out there have any ideas, I've kind of hit a dead end??

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 14 JANUARY, 1918. 829 20252 Lance-Corporal Joseph Komich, Canadian Inf. Cross of St. George, Forth Class (Russia) Lance-Corporal Joseph Komich Private Theodore Belinski Private Harry Koewve Private Frederick Mulford Private Matakichi Yashikawa L.Cpl. 20252 KOMICH, JOSEPH CAMC. Cross of the Order of St. George 4th Cl., LG. 15 Feb. 1917, CG. 14 Jan 1918 p.2683 I believe that he was with the Calgary Highlanders, or what became the Calgary Highlanders. This is what I have at the present time. I'll see what else I gcan get about him.

Hi Frank, Thanks for the info, I have passed it along. I'm not sure if my cousin want an original or a copy of the medal. I wonder how many Canadians received this award? Cheers, James

My Cousin has asked me to help her put together a set of medals that had been awarded to her grandfather. The one medal that she really needs help with and I know nothing about is the ?Cross of Saint George, 4th Class?. The question here is, how hard are these to come by and/or is there any place that might sell museum copies of this medal? Cheers, James

I finally have the uniform completed enough to put up for show. Although the beret is not an officer?s version, it was not uncommon for officers to wear EM's berets. The uniform was a Selous Scouts Officers. The Sam Browne belt belonged to an SAS officer. The original owner of the uniform was also in the SAS and the remnants of SAS wings are clearly still there.

You're running out of berets to buy, Eric!! I just picked up a couple of Rhodesian berets recently, that being an officers and EM's beret for the Selous Scouts and an officers beret for the SAS. I'm beginning to rethink the amount of berets that were brought into Rhodesia, rather than thinking about any being made there. It would be interesting to compare the construction methods between each beret to see if manufactures can be pin pointed! Cheers, James

Gee, I have a nice 57th Peterborough helmet plate that would go nicely with that medal!

No worries. it's not your fault, Paul. I'm just glad I know! Thanks again!! Cheers, James

Rick and Paul, Thank you for your replies. I've had this ribbon bar for about ten years and I cannot recall where I got it from. I'm clearing out items from my collection, and I wanted to make sure that there was no crap in the works. Thanks again! Cheers, James

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Would anyone care to give their opin about this ribbon bar, please? Cheers, James

Yes, they do care about the way they are treated. Nobody wants or cares about a soldier?until they need one! The days of soldiers being held in high esteem pretty much ended at the end of the Second World War. That is not to say that gratitude has not been shown since, but not like during the last two major wars. The general public only seem to hear about the deaths and when a soldier(s) have done something wrong. It gets more air time! Generally, what you think about a soldier is sometimes irrelevant to them. Their treatment when they return from a deployment is a concern to them, but the average thoughts of a civvy mean very little. I was more concerned with my peers thoughts! Back to the award in discussion. Cheers, James

James, That?s a good point/question. I?m not sure why that would be a concern for a soldier to display the fact that he had been wounded, once leaving the military. Having a gong on your chest for your actions, or, conflict area(s) that you served in is one thing, but to have one for a wound is something different, I think?on civilian dress. There are wounds and there are ?wounds?. I?ll not argue the difference here, but I think that for the military itself, a simple wound stripe would be enough. It would be recognised by those who count most to a soldier, other soldiers. For the most part, soldiers do not care what the average civvy thinks. Now to you point about if a soldier wants to transfer the wear of his awards to a civilian dress. I would think that a simple device be worn on the ribbon on a set award that denotes a wound. There could even be a series of devices that would show the number of wounds such as a UN medal having a number device for multiple deployments to that area. Cheers, James

For the military, stick to the wound stripe!! For everyone else, hey whatever you like, but the military and other groups should not have the same style of awards. If they are, they should have different ribbons and such to denote military from non-military. We're starting to look like the American's with the amount of hardware on the uniforms, no offence to our American brethren. Cheers, James

What was the price, if you don't mind me asking?? Cheers, James

Gerst, This is one of those ?tread lightly? issues. I?m sure that there is a happy medium out there for this type of thing, it?s just finding what that it. I?m certain that there will be input from the collectors on this forum that might guide you in a direction that would keep you happy doing what you are doing, and at the same time keep the hobby free of any other problems. I can understand the need for the items you are producing as I have a uniform I can only complete with a ribbon or medal bar and that will not happen with the original thing. However, being one of the individuals who have been burned in the past, I have to side with some of the collectors that have spoken out against perfect reproductions. Lets see what comments are forth coming! Cheers, James

A very sensitive topic indeed! Gerst, I think the animosity to what you are doing is due to the fact that there are people out there reproducing items, of all sort, that are destroying a hobby. This is a debate that has been going on for years. Some of these reproductions have cost people thousands of dollars and have made their hobby unenjoyable. If all items that are being reproduced had a marking or label on them would be one thing, but if something is being made to deceive collectors, that is another thing. For you to come here and explain what you are doing is, I think, admirable. Certainly not everyone will agree as even though you are stating your case and saying that you are not in it to fool people, your products are not made or marked in a way that would suggest otherwise. You may have started out to help others with something that was lost, or as a filler piece, but, what happens to these pieces after that causes problems as they can easily be sold to an unsuspecting individual as real. If you were to design your items that they could not be mistaken for an original, I think you wouldn?t have too many complaints. That?s not to say that you can?t have pride in your work and do a good job. However, putting a perfect or near perfect item on the market will do nothing more than hurt a hobby that is already fraught with landmines and pitfalls. Perhaps putting an odd coloured backing on the ribbon bars would make people aware that the items are reproduced. The backing would not be seen from the front and would serve as an indicator to novice/unsuspecting collectors.

Valery, Yes, there were berets from Botswana as well as Rhodesian made berets. A lot of the berets had their linings torn out for ease of shaping the beret and to reduce the heat of wearing a beret. Any Rhodesian berets that I have either have the lining torn out or are unmarked, unlike the Botswana berets that you see. Cheers, James

Hi Chris, I don't think the stable belt was ever worn with the dress greens. The officers did wear the Sam Browne style set up with cross belt. I'd like to get it set up with that on a suit form. Cheers, James

Hi Eric, Just as furtherance to the discussion on the treadles footwear, here is a photo of the footwear that was originally worn in the bush wars. Cheers, James

Well I finally got a new item in. I?ve known about this uniform for some time, but I never thought I would own it. I?ll not mention the original owners name, as he is a very private person and I respect his wishes. I am sure that some of you know this tunic and I ask you that you do not divulge the original owners name as well. All I can say is that I am very proud to own it. These photos are from one of the previous owners and I hope to have to have better ones in days to come. Cheers, James