Ed_Haynes

. . . normaly when you are going there you have to do the research yourself.

I'd go beyond this: Normally, researchers do their own work. Most archives do not have people on staff to do people's work for them. Research, after all is a lot of work . . . and a lot of fun. Those who have these skills sell them for more than the cost of a postage stamp. Those who collect British or Soviet awards know this.

Congratulations, nice low number. Now we need to find some with documentation!

Have been checking, paid about what Bob did.

Sub-Saharan Africa is really, really hard. There is little enough on Arab Africa, but much less on other areas (except for purely "colonial" awards and for South Africa). We may not want to get into a debate on why there is such little information on Africa, but some of the reasons seem obvious. The best information out there is on Megan Robertson's fine site, which has done a great job getting us started on Africa:

http://www.medals.org.uk/

We do need better, however.

I have put up some North African awards (anyone who is an Arab League member) over at

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2785

How heavy are these things Ed?

As I recall -- and you must remember it was an emotional moment! -- not much more than Marshall's Suvorov (which I have also had the chance to "feel-up"). While I can't use the word "disappointed" regarding a Victory, . . . .

Maybe such rolls exist in other countries?

I fear that these (and other) Indian rolls, if they survived the "good-bye" archival bonfires of the British in 1947, were probably thrown out in a major office cleaning of the Ministry of Defence Medal Offcice in the late-1970s/early-1980s. I keep trying and hoping for a certain answer.

For the people in England there is one in the Imperial War Museum in London, which if I remember belogned to Field Marshal Montgomery

Yes, it is addressed here at

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=4894

The forum's "search" function can be very useful.

Doc you are closer to one than you think. All you have to do to see one is to head north for a bit till you get to Abilene, Kansas to the Eisenhower Library that is where his Order of Victory is and his other Orders and Decorations.

And if you ask nicely, they may let you fondle it. I had that orgasmic opportunity once, though being on the history faculty at Kansas State University (with offices in Eisenhower Hall) probably helped.

by the way, the research was done long ago on the group. It was misplaced somehow by the seller, but luckily I had a copy of the research which has been forwarded on to the new owner of the group.

Dave

Seven decimal places?

Of course this group is okay. It was originally from my collection.

Dave

Wasn't EVERYTHING?????

What time is it? Research time!!!

Speechless . . .

Good thougfht, Bob. Something similar has been gnawing at me too. Battushig alludes to a return and replacement policy, with the old badges being melted down by the authorities. Much to think (and ask) about.

While Soviet practice is a guide, it a suggestion only. That the Soviets may have done something in a certain way is a hint the Mongols did it too, but I think it requires confirmation.

Yet, as Rick says so rightly, documented sets are the evidence we need (absent official government correspondence saying "this is what we are going to do").

$370-400 depending who you get it from.

Really . . .

Terribly glad to have one, then.

Nice. Is any research possible on these "epidemics" medals (in all their various types)? I have always thought that they must have had interesting stories to tell.

Hello Ed,

I think (and it is indeed only an assumption of mine) that, as the fourrag?re is a unit distinction worn on the uniform, veterans use these mini-fourrag?res once they're out of the armed forces and in civilian clothing to show their having been awarded one. They are, of course, non-regulationary !

Cheers,

Hendrik

Thanks, Hendrik. That too, is my sense. That they have a legitimate "unit" place on the uniform and that their presence on the medals is an unofficial augmentation. (Actually, that Wikipedia piece isn't bad!) But they are pretty, though. Ed

Lovely.

Despite a really helpful piece in a recent JOMSA and even in Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourrag%C3%A8re

I am still trying to sort out the use of these fourrag?res (proper English plural?) on the MEDALS, especially as used on the TOE CdG.

Soviet 25th Anniversary of GPW Badge, see: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7455

To add to my summer itinerary . . .

As Dave has reminded us, research is often possible for civil awards, though I'm not sure we want this too widely known, so that the fascinating civil groups will remain less desianble and still within the reach of those of us who know their myriad joys.

All awards are, of course, ultimately "political". The decision who got what aware is occasionally influenced by the merits of the deed, but more commonly -- in any state, any era -- what we may see as extraneous political concerns come in. It may just be a matter of rewarding what is valued in a given society: for the British high birth, for the Soviets cow-milking, for the USA, well, nothing, etc.

It is "Combat Land Developers."

Don't know, I have used the translation, however flawed, from the sole published English-language source of any redeeming value. Knowing the Mongolian (and then translating it accurately) will help, of course.

I guess it depends on whether the land fought back, Rick (the feudal aristocracy sure did...).

The res flys apart. As a photo of a photocopy there is zero detail. I'm trying to talk my friend out of his photo again or into a better copy to share...

Should we take up a collection . . . ???

Back

Thanks, Bob!

Again, we don't yet know the "proper" name, but Battushig calls it the Medal "Glory of the Virgin Land Cultivators" (# A 52.1 and A 52.2). As this is in English, this is, of course, "wrong", but I hope we can remedy this soon. While this may be good enough, for some, in English, it is important to know the correct name.