mravery

Hey Guys, Being fairly new to the Masonic brotherhood (MM 12/04... following my father's and grandfather's footsteps) I can only add a few comments. My Grandfather was WM of his lodge in 1921 in Pennsylvania and I have his cased jewel. To my knowledge he never wore it outside of the lodge. Most of the Masons that I know wear only their ring ??. With the Brits (I work very closely with my London office every day so the word ?Brits? was only meant with kind regards?..) I think British History and tradition revolves much more around ?pomp and circumstance? than we do here in the USA. When our UK office has their Christmas party.. they all wear tuxedos (which they own and do not rent)? Here? we are lucky if we can get the guys to wear freakin jackets ! If you look at the Veteran?s get together in the UK? they are all wearing their medals?. I can?t even remember the last time I saw any US veteran wear anything other than their American Legion cap. One of these days?..I?ll get back over to London?. And on my list of ?things I must see? will be to visit a few lodges ! Cheers Mark

close up of Griffin

Reverse.....

Hello Boys, Here is my version..... Interesting difference between this one and the others posted.. mine has rivits in each arm to attach the enamaled pieces. No maker mark... and Griffin is one peice... Any idea ofthe maker....

Hey Glenn, Many thanks for the info... but it leads me to another question.... Ok.. the other groups were also authorised to wear the double breasted tunic .... but were any of them the same color combinations... i.e. light grey/blue with red facings and gold bullion tape ? I checked your site.. and couldn't seem to answer that question. Cheers Mark

close up of eagle [attachmentid=33596]

close up of "F" [attachmentid=33594]

reverse [attachmentid=33593]

Ok guys, With all this PLM takl that is going on.. here and at 'the other forum'... I decided to dig mine out.... Now.... I'm 99.99999999999% sure this is a copy..... but is it one of the newer Spanish ones... or an old Roth or ???????? There are no makers marks anywhere on the cross.. (that I can see)....... But I also have another question.... Why is it some of the PLM's have just a 'bar' to attatch the loop and others (like this one) have a pie shaped suspension for the loop to attach too ?? It one style earlier than another or ???? Well.. here is it !! Cheers Mark [attachmentid=33592]

Thanks Glenn...... Hummm.. perhaps I need to scratch "Avery" into all my stuff..... to help confuse other collectors 60 years from now PS.... Glenn... did you see my question in the uniform section concerning Austrian general's tunics ???? Cheers Mark

Hello All, I recently picked up a wartime Guard officer's spike and scratched into the interior spike base support 'washer' is the name "W Schoefer".... I checked the 14-18 rank list.... but I'm not expert at reading them ... but I could not find any officer by that name. Is there any other place to look... or any other reference.. ?? or anyone who can find it (Ohhhhh.... Rickyyyyyyyyyy ???) Or.. perhaps this was scratched in by some collector years ago... I have no idea ?????? Cheers Mark

Hello All, I'm curious about a certain style of tunic....... Was this style reserved for use by general's only... or could other officers also wear this pattern. All of the photos that I have.. only show this double breasted style worn by General rank or FM. I know that the buttons were different... just not sure about the tuic itself... I appreciate any thoughts. Cheers Mark [attachmentid=33506]

Hey Bob, Here is the definition from the web: Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms - the Sovereign's nearest Guard - was instituted by King Henry VIII in 1509. However, until 17 March 1834 they were originally known as The Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. Henry decided to have 'this new and sumptuous Troop of Gentlemen composed of cadets of noble families and the highest order of gentry', as his personal Body Guard. As his Body Guard it accompanied Henry to France in 1513 and took part in the Battle of Guinegate or better known as the Battle of the Spurs and in 1520 attended The King at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Except for the Yeomen of the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard and the Sergeants-at-Arms, the Gentlemen-at-Arms are the oldest corps in England. At the time that the Body Guard began conducting their duties on foot in Court, as well as mounted in the field, the carried the Battle Axe when in Chamber service. Today the Honourable Corps consist of 5 Officers and 27 Gentlemen, all of whom, with the exception of the Captain, have to be retired Officers of the Army or the Royal Marines. All members of the Corps are members of the Royal Household. The Officers are promoted from amongst the Gentlemen and receive Sticks of Office from the hand of the Sovereign on appointment. Their normal duties include attendance at all State Occasions and Services of the Great Orders of Chivalry. The Corps has its headquarter in St James' Palace. This is the immediate charge of the 'Axe-Keeper and Butler' whose primary duty is to look after the battle axes which are still carried by the Gentlemen on duty. Cheers Mark

Harribobs, This is great info.. thank you very much...... I was curious about the swords but it sounds like just a standard Cavalry sword. Another question...... Would the GaA's be considered a 'Military' unit... or more of a Civil group ? Cheers Mark

Hello all, I have a few questions to query the group.... 1) what pattern swords did the Gentlemen at Arms carry ? 2) does anyone have any pictures of the GaA's in parade uniform that they can post.... 1900-1945 period ? Cheers and thanks ! Mark

and finally... his uniform... (back left)... Tunic is a summer weight non-lined tailor made id'd to him as a Lt. General. Cap is an Erel. (ribbons are incorrect)

another article

another part 2

newspaper article

ribbons only showing foriegn awards ???

nice pic showing ribbon bar

Looks like Bulgarians, Serbians, Romainians, Italian and Japanese

with Romainians (I think)

with the Italians

Major Speth