Greg

Greetings,

I am desperately seeking a breast star of a KCVO - Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Does anyone know where I can obtain one?

Anywhere in the world ?

At this stage (while preferring the real thing) I would settle for a copy, replica, reproduction or fake even. But I do not want a poorly embroidered one from eBay. I know that will upset the purists but time is short.

The purpose is for a book illustration but also for my collection.

All replies would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Greg. (in Australia)

Many thanks!

And another : <H1 class=itemTitle>Most Excellent Order of the British Empire GBE STAR</H1>Item number: 220384101473

for only 95 GBP. Ending in 23 hours !!

Greg.

There is a GBE star for sale on eBay right now. Item number: 370176894517.

Greg.

I have asked two separate questions here and still have no clear answers.

1. Does anyone know where I can purchase some ribbon for these medals? (regardless of what I may or may not wish to use it for!)

and trying to be more clear ...

2. For example - Australian regulations stipulate that medals must be court mounted. "IF" a person was awarded "a" (as in not particularly these ones mentioned because of question 1) medal with a trifold ribbon and had to add it to other court mounted medals, how could it be done? ie. is there an acceptable manner in which this might be respectfully and properly mounted in the court style? I note the swing mounted medals illustrated above which have been respectfully mounted.

N.B.: the above question 2. is a hypothetical question out of interest because I enjoy chestnuts like this.

N.B.: Thank you for the previous information. It helps me decide whether it is possible to award such a medal to my totally fictitious character in my realistic but fictitious novel which I am writing in which I am keen to have things done accurately/correctly.

Greg.

Greg,

I doubt that you could undo a trifold ribbon and use it to court mount the Hungarian medal. There is a metal grommet through one side and getting it out without ruining the ribbon would be very difficult. Re the discussion with Ed, I suspect that they would simply have pinned it onto the tunic under their other medals. My book on modern Hungarian medal regulations does not include the NATO medals. I wanted to look up the regulations to see if the Hungarians would have awarded a Hungarian NATO medal to a foreigner. There is a limited number of Hungarian medals that can be awarded to a foreigner. The foreigners who most often receive current Hungarian medals are foreign Ambassadors who have finished their tour and are about to depart Hungary. I've attahed a foto of a Russian Major wearing a Hungarian decoration. This may not be pertinent to your discussion but I am not familiar with the wearing of ODMs in England.

Following the war, Hungarian officers awarded foreign decorations wore them with their original mounting ribbons fastened to their tunics.

Rgeards,

Gordon

Thanks, Gordon. I would still like to find some of the ribbon. Someone must make the stuff!

Greg.

I sincerely doubt one of those Commonwealth types who still, somehow, need QEII's premission to wear foreign medals would ever receive it for a medal like this anyway.

Okay, seeing that I can't get an answer to my question, let's change the question.

You said "force it screaming and kicking into an alien UK-style mount or challenge his mounting shop to do it right (as did many WWI, WWII, and even later recipients of Russian, Serbian, Soviet, etc. awards)?"

How should they have mounted the trifold ribboned medal with other medals?

Greg.

Which "Commonwealth Officer" (or NCO/OR for that matter) would . . .

-- have been awarded this medal -- quasi-official at best? -- or are we assuming a hypothetical legitate Hungarian recipient who emigrated to Bristol and then would get something Brit decades in the future?

-- force it screaming and kicking into an alien UK-style mount or challenge his mounting shop to do it right (as did many WWI, WWII, and even later recipients of Russian, Serbian, Soviet, etc. awards)?

But if we're talking about some self-awarding Walter Mitty . . .

This is hypothetical : a British Officer serving on exchange with a NATO ally in Bosnia could be awarded a Croatian medal on a trifold ribbon, or as a training officer in Austria, or on Diplomatic staff etc etc. ..

If a British or Commonwealth Officer/NCO etc was awarded any trifold ribboned medal, how would it be mounted along with his or her other medals ? That IS what I am asking!

It could also apply to a Hungarian who moves to Bristol and is awarded a MBE a few years later.

(and yes, in my novel, I am considering my hero getting such an award - official or otherwise. It would still need to be mounted in a consistent way even if it was worn on the right breast along with a St John Life Saving medal for instance.)

Greg.

But why in the world would you wish to (British) court mount a medal that would NEVER be worn that way? I am very confused.

A Fair question. But if an Commonwealth Officer has been awarded a medal from another country and needed to add it to a rack of other medals, how else would you suggest it be done? Even if such a medal were to be worn in normal court fashion (ie. non trifold), I would still need some ribbon to work with, wouldn't I? If not, please educate me - I am keen to learn.

Greg.

Greg,

There are no medal mounting shops that I am aware of. The medals are worn on the trifold ribbon as issued in the case so there is no need to "court mount" the medal. I have never seen a length of ribbon material for sale anywhere. It is very rare these days for the dress uniform to be worn. Even then, just usually with a ribon bar. The Gaurd Battalion was disbanded last year so we don't even see them on parade any more. If modern medals were worn on parade I would assume they would be worn on the brass medal device that was used during the Communist period or just pinned on as an individual medal. I'll ask some of my Hungarian collector collegues via email later today. I also have an English speaking Hungarian medal dealer I will be talking to later today and I'll ask him as well.

Regards,

Gordon

Thank you again, Gordon.

Even if I could obtain a trifold, I could undo it and iron it out flat, I suppose.

Greg.

Greg,

When you say ribbons are you referring to the trifold ribbon for the medal or the ribbon for the ribbon bar? I live in Budapest and I can look at the next militaria show for you but I think chances are slim. I offered to look for a trifold ribbon for another chap on the forum but was never able to find one. Could have bought the complete medal but not the ribbon by itself.

Regards,

Gordon

Hi Gordon,

I am looking for a length of the flat ribbon to use in court mounting the medal - not the trifold nor the ribbon bar (although I will make a ribbon bar). I have learned that these are Hungarian Defence Department issue and that the ribbon should be available at suppliers.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know the email address or websites of any official medal shops or ribbon suppliers in Hungary.

Any and all assistance would be greatly appreciated. I am finding dead-ends on every lead I get.

Thanks,

Greg.

I am searching for some of the ribbon for these medals. Can anyone help me? Or tell me where to go?

These medals were constituted by the Minister of Defence of the Hungarian Republic, in 2004. </FONT>The name of the first medal is: "ENSZ Szolg?lati ?rdem?rem" ( UNO Service Medal of Merit )"

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-4577-1236352656.jpg</SPAN></SPAN>

Now the seller is claiming : "This medal was constituted by the Minister of Defence of the Hungarian Republic, in 2004. Awarded for soldiers, who served in international U.N. missions. The name of the medal is: "ENSZ Szolg?lati ?rdem?rem" ( UNO Service Medal of Merit )"

Is there an expert here on Hungarian medals who can comment ?

Greg.

Well, I cannot find them mentioned on any UN site and I just received a reply from the Hungarian UN Association.

"Dear Mr. Henderson,

I have no idea about these medals. I do not think they are Hungarians. I have never heard of them. Today I am leaving for Canada and will be back in a week time. Then I will investigate.

Best regards,

Dr. Ervin Gombos

Secretary-General

United Nations Association of Hungary"

So now it is a mystery. Where on earth are they from? The seller swears that they are official Hungarian United Nations medals but the UN and the Hungarian UN Association disagree. Any ideas ????

The same seller on eBay also has another Hungarian UN medal as below. Ebay Item number: 220365658545

Hungary - OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Service Medal of Merit, 2004.

Hi,

I have bought a new medal on eBay but can find out nothing about it. Does anyone here recognise it?

It is described as from Hungary - UNO (United Nations Organization) Service Medal of Merit, 2004.

Both sides appear to be identical but may not be.

Any ideas?

I have a ribbon bar for

"Golden Palms in the order of the Crown"

It is a modern version, for a slide bar.

Excellent ! Would you be willing to part with it? If so, please email me at gh1961@bigpond.com. Thanks, Greg.

Greg the former Imperial awards required not only long service but good conduct, perhaps for example there was a incident that precluded him from receiving the medal. Get a copy of his service record and have a look.

Sean

Thanks Sean. His Service Record states hid Conduct as good or satisfactory all the way along. Knowing the man, I am sure he bucked the rules as often as he could but his record says he was good. That's why I find it puzzling. There's probably nothing I can do about it now but you'd think he'd get something for 27 years serving his country.

Greg.

I am searching for the following items. Can you help me?

1. 12" of the ribbon to court mount the Knight's breast medal for the Belgian Order of the Crown Academic Palms.

2. One Gold Palms device for the ribbon bar.

3. 12" of the ribbon to court mount the Knight's breast medal for the Italian Order of Merit of the Republic.

3a. One Knight's device for the ribbon bar.

4. The Crossed Swords device for the Italian Gulf War medal ribbon bar.

5. The gold lace & crossed swords device for the Polish Gold Cross of Military Merit (Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami) ribbon bar.(or a whole ribbon bar)

6. 6" (or ribbon bar) of the ribbon to make a ribbon bar for the Order of St John Lifesaving Silver Medal. Anyone know whether it has a device on the ribbon bar to denote the silver level?

If you can't supply these items, can you point me in the right direction? I have been searching for well over a year now. Somebody has to supply these things.

Many thanks,

Greg.

I am searching for the following items. Can you help me?

1. 12" of the ribbon to court mount the Knight's breast medal for the Belgian Order of the Crown Academic Palms.

2. One Gold Palms device for the ribbon bar.

3. 12" of the ribbon to court mount the Knight's breast medal for the Italian Order of Merit of the Republic.

3a. One Knight's device for the ribbon bar.

4. The Crossed Swords device for the Italian Gulf War medal ribbon bar.

5. The gold lace & crossed swords device for the Polish Gold Cross of Military Merit (Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami) ribbon bar.(or a whole ribbon bar)

6. 6" (or ribbon bar) of the ribbon to make a ribbon bar for the Order of St John Lifesaving Silver Medal. Anyone know whether it has a device on the ribbon bar to denote the silver level?

If you can't supply these items, can you point me in the right direction? I have been searching for well over a year now. Somebody has to supply these things.

Many thanks,

Greg.

I am searching for the following items. Can you help me?

1. 12" of the ribbon to court mount the Knight's breast medal for the Belgian Order of the Crown Academic Palms.

2. One Gold Palms device for the ribbon bar.

3. 12" of the ribbon to court mount the Knight's breast medal for the Italian Order of Merit of the Republic.

3a. One Knight's device for the ribbon bar.

4. The Crossed Swords device for the Italian Gulf War medal ribbon bar.

5. The gold lace & crossed swords device for the Polish Gold Cross of Military Merit (Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami) ribbon bar.(or a whole ribbon bar)

6. 6" (or ribbon bar) of the ribbon to make a ribbon bar for the Order of St John Lifesaving Silver Medal. Anyone know whether it has a device on the ribbon bar to denote the silver level?

If you can't supply these items, can you point me in the right direction? I have been searching for well over a year now. Somebody has to supply these things.

Many thanks,

Greg.

Emmanuel wrote :

"Hello Greg,for ribbon you can contact Frederic de Perier in France (he is the biggest french ribbon dealer) and he has a lot of worldwide ribbon : de.perier@free.fr

To do enamel repair is difficult,and in most of the case the result isn't what you expected....(I mean in quality).

Emmanuel

Thank you, Emmanuel. I have emailed de.perier@free.fr

Thanks also Ed. I understand how you feel about repairing the medal but I need a whole one. I'll happily swap it !

Greg.

Hi,

I am looking for someone (website even?) who is an expert or who knows a bit about the Order of St John medals and Awards insignia. Looking for knowledge in general and specifically about the OStJ Lifesaving medals - Is there an emblem/device/attachment to indicate the level of the award - Gold, Silver, Bronze?

Thank you in anticipation.

Greg.

I have been trying for years now, to work out why my grandfather didn't qualify for a long service medal in the Royal Australian Navy. He served 27 years from 1920 to 1947, first as a Stoker on various ships and then as he was too old to go on overseas service in WWII, he served as a Dockyard (Naval) Police Constable in Sydney Harbour. I have his War Medal and Australian Service Medal but that's it.

Family history says he served in the First World War as well - in the Navy but in Home waters as he was too young at the time. It seems he had two diiferent Service Numbers. He lost two brothers in the Army in France.

I have written to Honours Directorate but they just say he didn't get one - Long Service medal.

Any ideas ?

Greg.

Dear All

I am becoming quite frustrated in my attempts to purchase ribbon and/or ribbon devices for several medals I want to mount. I am sure you all know the story ! The Association of Members of the Order tell me to contact Spink because they are the suppliers. Spink tell me (or are just not interested!) to contact Toye & Kenning who tell me contact someone else who tell me to contact Spink who tell me to contact Gardino in Rome.

Does anyone know -

1. a website for Gardino in Rome ?

2. a company who can supply ribbon and ribbon devices for medals from Belgium, Italy, France & Poland?

3. where I can get lengths of ribbon (to court mount) US medals? Everyone seems to have pre-packaged ribbon bars but no ribbon.

4. Would it be ok if I posted a list of my needs here to see if anyone has the bits and pieces I am looking for?

5. Where can I get the enamel of an Order repaired ?

Thanks,

Greg.

(In Australia)

I have seen these done as ear-rings and sweetheart brooches as well.

regards

Matt