Ed_Haynes

I had not wanted to get involved here, but: -- The Indian Independence Medal is his first award. -- The next three are awards from Indian 'Princely' States. They were worn next in the post-1950 order of wearing. -- The Pacific Star was an uncommon award to the Indian Navy, but I guess it may have happened. Most Pacific Stars to Indians were for army people who went 'in the bag' in Singapore. Most Indian Navy awards were the Burma Star. That's enough.

I'd suggest the name is Bhim Rao. Making it: 2757712 P/Nk Bhim Rao MLI .

The ribbon is blue, narrow white, green, narrow red, sand. It is often reversed. But Brian has it right. The map is the obverse, rather than the national emblem. Backwards from what it should be, but you need to remember who made the medal (BJP).

See: http://www.googleearthcoolplaces.com/relat...ce=medal_symbol

I'll help too.

A really good question, and, like Peter, I'll need to look. A great deal of information is available on what natives (of the British Isles) wore, but very little information on Indians' uniforms. I know the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research in New Delhi has assembled a complete (almost complete) set of dress regulations and many (not all) of the general orders that fine-tuned these vague regulations. They also have a good photo archive. But I'm not there. I know they'd love to find someone willing to undertake the thankless project of working on a serious book on Indian uniforms. The greatest problem, especially early in the Great War, is that of improvization. Troops arrived in Europe dressed for Indian summers and remained in cotton khaki shorts until well into that first European winter.

After my (still painful) experience of selling off what I thought were marginal things, I have acquired bits and pieces from the collections of three three prominent "gentlemen" (two of them moderately active on this forum). My standing ABSOLUTE condition of acquiring thesse items was that, should I even wish to move them while I still lived (however unlikely, but ...??), they would have a first option to reacquire these AT THE PRICES I PAID (no silly rise in market prices among "gentlemen"). See why I'll never be rich? And I take pride in that. Unlike some, I don't see any of this as an "investment".

Thanks, Rick. Somehow, that is one bit of information (of many) that keeps falling through the Swiss-cheese brain holes.

Yes, Rick, that was exactly my thought. What is the official name for these badges? And, to keep the visual image going, the certificate to V. B. Lavrinovich (his badge seems to have gone missing over the years).

To show all three reverses. Not sure (?) this has been done. Can someone show all documents? I can only do 2/3.

Need help, please. Numbered Д61181. Does the "Д" mean what I think the "Д" means?

A very nice, group, especially for these days. The OPW may crack the research on an otherwise dead-end group given present research realities. Excited/envious anticipation . . . .

Could be interesting. We await. He should be able to help.

Very nice image. Quick effort at a detail:

Much wisdom from Rick. I still regret (seriously regret) every single item I once had that I let go. Even the German (just pre-1933, nothing later) stuff. It seemed to make sense at the time, but was idiotic. Given current market realities, I am also not sure this is a good time to move non-top-top-top Soviet things. Too much volatility.

Thanks, Laurence. Quite an interesting group.

Any word on any special awards for the 50th anniversary of Cuban liberation?

I would guess this is to Chowkidar [Watchman] T. Bahadur. When naming got shifted out to the regiments it got worse. Where there is no regiment (or standards) as with the Military Engineering Service . . . Usually much clearer when in Hindi.

Well said, Rick. And I didn't note "Antiques Road Show" as any part of the forum title.

Yes, quite but that reverse!

Well, since the government that awarded it no longer existed, how could it authorise anything? His original was not authorised by the government of the moment, so was it illegitimate somehow? Yes, what you describe it is a copy. Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be? Just as awards of "South Vietnam" made in the US today are copies, they are not authentic contemporary awards. Perhaps these are not intended to deceive and defraud modern collectors (of whose future existence and micro-arcane discussions our hypothetical PLM recipient probably couldn't even imagine). Part of the issue may lie in a phaleristic culture that awards pieces of paper, not named or numberd awards. Here's your paper, we'll give you one award (maybe), now go buy others if you want them. Is there a difference between buying them in 1917, 1937, or 1957? I'd suggest there is, on many levels.

There used to be (official) sites to get the regulations in PDF, but the ones I used have apparently been shut off to non-military sorts. Maybe someone can help. I, too, wondered if they were part of a group. Very similar preservation. It would seem likely that there would be a missing three-ribbon row with a WWII trio.

Yes: Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and American Defense Service Medal. Seems that a lower row (or rows) are missing. Again, Lukasz has given us a fine resource, if you want something online.

Yes, but the bar is reversed. In order: National Defence Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. For all ribbons, including these, check out: http://www.medals.lava.pl/index.htm

Right! Of course. As an outsider, I have found this discussion interesting at times, but at other times immensely sad and depressing.