bushchook

That's interesting bushchook (chook is Aussie for a chicken.....) - I wonder if that means he sold them to raise money,

with the proviso they be shown in the Aust. War Museum ? Mind you - he may have just donated them with that intention. Mervyn

They were sold to the Maryborough Museum a good number of years ago.

I think he's only shown handing the medals to the AWM as a PR exercise.

These are owned by the Maryborough Military Museum - seems they did a deal with the AWM to display them in Canberra.

One think to to consider with Vietnam groups is that in a many cases, duplicate sets were issued to the soldier so if you buy a group, it pays to see if a duplicate group was also issued.

Copies of Vietnam groups were also made by the late Rex Clark.

You might be able to get some info about his time in Stanley Camp in this forum:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stanley_camp

Mick

I don't suppose anyone would have drawings or paintings by AJ Savitsky (my grandfather - he was HK Police Reserve) whilst in Stanley Camp?

My dad and I are try to track down and get copies (or even originals) of his works during his internment - he did 200 odd drawings and paintings in Stanley Camp including that of the Japanese commandant.

Mick

Cheers Mr 1314!

Another quick one - why are the HK Police badges so scarce these days? I heard that most of them were taken or destroyed by the Japanese.

Hi,

>>If you read all the posts in this series you will get an idea of the Russian element of the Force.For further reference see the following books - Siu Geng,The HK Marine Police 1841 - 1950 by >>Iain Ward

>>The RHKP 1841-1945 by Crisswell and Watson

Thanks - will check these books out.

>>see also www.gwulo.com/ - and a Yahoo group on "Stanley Camp",in which Savitsky features several times as the Camp artist.

I know Gwulo and the yahoo group since I started it!! I was hoping to get some more info here rather than just be refered back to my group

>>Only those Russians who had been granted British Nationality were interned in Stanley,the remainder had to take their chance in wartime Hong Kong,attempt to return to China from which most had come,or move on.

Yes that is indeed correct. My great grandmother (grandparent's become British subjects) remained in Kowloon during the war as she was considered non British.

As regards the pre war cap badge,for Other ranks it was a simple Crown with a slider; the senior ranks wore a White Metal/Chrome Royal cypher.

Other ranks did not wear collar dogs ( lugged badges n the lapels);the senior officers wore a white metal/chrome crowned circlet bearing the Colony Arms,(no scroll as post war) with lugs.

Whilst there are now few,if any,original records left,certainly no personnel files,the Russians have been quite well documented by others- get digging and googling !

OK thanks re badges- and yes, have been doing a lot of digging and googling over the years and then came across this thread.

Mick

Hi Guys,

Does anyone have much information on the Russians who were in the HK Police during the 1930s and 1940s?

My grandfather (AJ Savistky) and his cousin (Vitali 'Vic' Veriga) were two Russian members of the HKP in the 1930s and 1940s (both ended up in Stanley camp during WW2 as 'guests' of the Japanese.

I'd love to find out if any Police records exists for them or any of the other Russians.

Regards,

Mick

ps

Does anyone know if the 1930s KC HK Police hat badge had lugs, a slider or where both used during that period?

The Cossum books are now starting to get expensive and reasonably hard to find. There is a badge book in progress that will cover Australian badges post 1953 and will hopefully be out in the next month or two.

Mick

Hello Mervyn,

I would agree that outside of Australia they are difficult items to find.

ISBN for volume 1 : ISBN 0949530018

ISBN for volume 2 : ISBN 0949530026

ISBN for volume 3 : ISBN 0949530050

I had all 3 volumes back in the early 1990s but have since managed to either lend them to another collector or mislaid them. A dealer friend in Sydney has all 3 volumes and has indicated, that while Mr Cossum does not intend to provide an update to the books, another publishing house and author is apparently going to attempt an update. When I have more information I will post here.

I have found copies in the past at some well known used bookstores on the web. I always use <abebooks.com> and <used.addall.com>. I think you might find them there.

A small picture from an unnamed auction house will show some detail of the book covers for vol's 1 & 2 for your reference.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Rob

The attached set of Australian badges has me a little puzzled. Apart from the left collar - which has the rounded crown, more usually associated with George 5th. - and therefore, prob. WW1 - all of the others have the sharper edged crown from late Victoria and Edward 7th. Could these be Boer War ? Any help would be appreciated. The other question - did our Aussie contingents in the Boer War wear unit badges, or, the standard half sun badge ?

These are probably WW1 or WW2 Rising Sun badges. This pattern was first worn in 1914. Not sure about the other Boer War contingents but the Australian Horse did wear an early pattern Rising Sun badge (quite different to the WW1 and WW2 badge).

Mick

They are the RAInf (Royal Australian Infantry Corps) collar badges.