Ed_Haynes

Despite what some posts have asserted, outrage here has nothing to do with nationalism or politics. This -- like this forum -- is (and muist remain) neutral toward such atavistic things. However, engaging the press, and making e$cam aware that this is happening, may have interesting results. At least it could be fun. Drag all the scum through the public muck!

And as you know, Christian -- better, perhaps, than anyone else (Gnitienko) -- research is the only way to answer such questions. While the outcome may not always be as pleasant as yours, the facts are the facts, while guesses are just that.

As has been said already, we can sit here and pitch out guesses as much and as long as we wish, but the only way to answer any questions will be through research. While it may raise new questions, tell us things we didn't want to know, or reveal invisible wonders, it is the only way to resolve any of these questions. We look forward to seeing the results!

As worn by a friend of us all (Tsedenbal), ca. 1942 (earlier I think) (from the 50th Anniversary History of the Mongolian Army). I suggest this is state security (= Mongolian KGB = commisar).

And, finally, one that I think we can identify. (Compare it to #21, above.) Again, the background is dark green.

And more along the same lines, background color is dark green.

While there does not seem to be tremendous interest in these, let me continue to document what I can, against the day when we figure them out and/or there is some emerging interest. Some items (the first three) that seem to reflect a replacement of Soviet-style insigniae with US-style insigniae. The fourth item is, of course, a collar patch. Branch colors to be determined.

I am not usually a believer in capital punishment, but for a crime such as this, only execution seems an appropriate punishment. That someone, driven by massive amounts of mixed greed and ignorance, would be willing to perform this historical desecration amazes me. And, no, this is not the seller's property to do with as he wishes, it is Tynan's group (or was until it was torn asunder) and any collector would know that the First Commandment is to keep groups together. This is a massive tragedy, but the only way to prevent it would be to further enrich the scum who has broken the group with the sole aim of getting rich. I despair of humanity. And the beloved-of-some eBay merely encourages this criminal act. No reputable dealer or auction house these days would so split a group of such great historical importance.

I am sneaking up, slowly, toward some sort of understanding of Mongolian rank insigniae. Soon, I'll post some guesses here. In the interim, a set of collar tabs, arm patch (?), and greatcoat collar patch (?) for what I think is pre-WWII state security. The scan may not look that way, but the dark is dark green.

A lovely one - thanks for sharing.

A low-skilled manual laborer in the navy, mainly recruited from East Africa. The rank has racial overtones and was renamed in 1935.

That was my first thought, though I have never seen "Brahmin" as a"family name"; in any case "W" as a first initial would be linguistically impossible.

Interesting presentation and discussion. Thanks, all. What makes you think the first (mis-ribboned) Victorian medal is a QSA? Normally, that would have a clasp (or several); unclasped QSAs are immensely uncommon. More likely China 1900?

Yes, certainly seems post-1950 Taiwan. Probably some sort of commendation thing, but that is just a guess. So far, there are no sources (in English at least) on Taiwan's awards.

I'd be really interested in your preview thoughts, on both Mongolian and early USSR things. I have no intention in fishing in this pond, though I am tempted. My gear isn't big enough, I suspect.

Unfortunately, many of the secondary suppliers in Ulanbaatar look to Igor's site to set THEIR prices (I have been shown nice color printouts from his site to justify their silly prices, and none of these guys routinely trade internationally except at the weekly UB coin fair, to the boys who've come down from Irkutsk), add two more steps and . . . . Just wait to see where the ones at Markov's auction go . . . anyone care to guess?

And the 'rear', badly backlit, that time of day.

And detail shot. I think this is a 'recycled' greatcoat from earlier, as the two top buttons on each side have been removed. We need to know SO much more.

Closeup.

The greatcoat. (Ignore the pants, they're Afghan.)

My guess is that he has a translation Word template for the record card into which he fits the normal (long) and the abnormal (wartime, short and nasty) information whether it fits or not. The elegance of things like his service rceord translations suggests a good bit of pre-preperation. He just needs another template.

Right . . . interesting point. The translation must be based on something other than this.

Nice. Unfortunately, I don't have WWII army lists to look him up. Will ask friends in Delhi to check.

Nice one, Doc. Not often are those "mass" awards of the lower medals as helpful as this one! And isn't it the record card in posts 4 and 5??

Interesting one of a Subadar (?) with the Indian Overseas Badge. Any name or regiment? The first is, of course, the GSM.