Ed_Haynes

Interesting thread, thanks. Nice images and history.

But:

How many of these "winners" survived the war? Few, I expect.

How many of these "winners" won the war? None.

Hero-worship ought not obscure reality? In more dimensions than just these??

A ball park figure would be ?4,000-?5,000 (GBP), cased. About $8,000-$10,000 USD.

Or more $US, depending on where the $US is at this nanosecond . . . .

I assume there were 15-25 sets for him, basically one in each house.

All just as official as the next one, and they must all be somewhere?

In theory there are probably a number of collectors out there with original Saddam sets.

best

Chris

Yes, Chris, just like pieces of the "true cross". And Arab merchants got rich from them too.

Provenance, provenance, provenance.

Or, if one prefers, myth, myth, myth.

These is so much fantasy and delusional fiction regarding his awards that one is unsure even where to start. Kind of like the market for slivers of the "true cross" in an earlier "crusade"?

I'm getting a copy of the book. It is a BIG book and very interesting. Also promises of full translations of the sections needed. It may get an English edition if rights can be resolved and there is any significant interest (25 copies or so?).

Nice one. Thanks for sharing that with the now-envious mob!

As I have now finished, and submitted, my article for the JOMSA on the Order of Combat Valor, I am now turning to my next project, an article on this fine little badge. Can anyone add new information to the pile of conjecture I have to work with.

As they congeal, I shall post my theories here for comment by any who still frequent (infrequent?) this forum.

My colleague was amazed at the metaphorical, we-don't-want-to-actually-say-THAT, usages in play here.

The source for the item summarizes it as:

Awarded to Russian private in the 206 Independent Machinegun-Artillery Battalion, 53 Army. He was a signal corps line supervisor.

Served since AUG 42 and severely wounded near Leningrad in the buttocks. As a result, his testicles were amputated - yes, you read this correctly. Service member was from near Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Submitted for OPWII, downgraded to RS, upgraded to OPW I, and finally granted the originally requested OPWII. . . .

Apparently, it was the left first, then both. Gangrene?

This may explain the bouncing back and forth of the recommendations. What exactly do you give a comrade for that sacrifice for the Motherland?

Thanks. But, er, Rick, please check again. Are you SURE abouit "left leg"? My understanding is that some, well, "special vocabulary" is being used? Think it was rather worse than that?

The award to (Guards?) Private Aleskei Yakovlevich Verozubov.

See http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=22140

And part 4.

Read it and weep.

(And thanks! )

Reverse, part 3.

Part 2.

Reccomendation, part 1.

Reverse.

Documents not fully translated, but if you help me I PROMISE it will be well worth the effort (I have a precis from my colleague who does Russian history). Cross my heart.

Record card front.

A single OPW 2, screw-post shortened, #803579.

these kind of scams just floor me. P.T. Barnum was quite correct..... a sucker is born every minute.

Now, this Barnum chap, he founded eBay, right???

Lieutenant Vladimir Sidorovich Pokusov

See http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=22064 and, as information emerges, it gets more and more interesting .

I just bought a Best Herder badge (mirror reverse Type 2) this morning. You guys are a baleful influence.

We do out best, Rick, we do out best. Although, when herding the "five snouts", you don't need to cut and bail, they simply graze on their own.

All is not lost . . . Alexei has an update!

The tale about "copies for everyday wear" seems to be the unholy invention of enterprising dealers. There's no evidence that such things ever existed. A nice quality "replica" could go on a uniform, but this one seems pretty "brassy" (or is it the scan?).

Ohhh . . . nice . . .

One more area where the absence of a good and carefully researched sources equates to limited interest. We need MUCH better than Emering's piece.

Take advantage of these undocumented areas while you can. Someday there will be agood book on Vietnamese awards, written by someone who knows the languages and did the research.

Rick, if you have only one in the herd, they will not breed. You need a flock now. Start collecting Mongolian awards, and you'll soon be flocked.