Ed_Haynes

Duffadar Birjies Khan Gwalior Camel Corps

Mutiny, "CENTRAL INDIA". Named: "Duffadar Birjies Khan Gwalior Camel Corps".

Sepoy ___ Chund, 5th or Sirmoor Rifle Battalion

First Sikh War, Aliwal, clasp Sobraon. A nice early Gorkha-gong. A shame the naming is bashed; will need to seek roll in Delhi. Named: "SE _____ R CHUND. 5th or SIRMOOR RIFLE BATTn".

Yes, for "fringe" items it may take more than two days to get a useful response.

To date, the best source on these (and other African) campaigns remains R. B. Magor's African General Service Medals (revised and enlarged edition; London: [Naval and Military Press], 1993; ISBN 1-987632-26-6). But it may be hard to find as I fear it is out or print/stock (although abebooks.com list fifteen copies ranging from $15 to $81!).

Well done, Gunner!

Just to add to Tony's post, a nice group went at DNW in July 2004.

As eye candy.

A rare Royal Niger Company service group of four awarded to Major J. H. Ewart, Seaforth Highlanders

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse (Capt., Sea. Highrs.); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (Major, Lagos Hausa Force); Royal Niger Company?s Medal 1886-97, 1 clasp, Nigeria 1886-1897 (Major J. H. Ewart); Khedive?s Star 1882, minor contact marks

Admission price? ?3500!

Thanks for the useful posts, Tony.

To summarize:

1- Original

2- Period Spink "COPY"

3- Later Spink "SPECIMEN"

4- Blatant fake (as in "eBay")

Right?

You do well to raise a question as to the role and place of non-original medals. Given the rarity and price of the originals and the desire of the type collection to fill a gap, we need to ponder the legitimate place of "2" and "3", above. I have been on the trail of a "1" for some time, and just missed a nice one in a group but the admission price was very high indeed. For example, a nice British British North Borneo Company Medal 1897-1916, 1 clasp, Rundum, silver (Private 42 Bahadur) went at DNW in December 2004 for a whopping ?920, while a British North Borneo Company Medal 1897-1916, 1 clasp, Punitive Expeditions, bronze (Esser Singh 311 Private) went in July 2004 (in pretty bad condition) for ?440.

PS- Welcome, Tony. Hope you continue to drop in fron time to time! Good to see you again.

Well put, Rick. I am still reeling over the story as it shapes up, really poignant history. And a perfect example of the nearly cinematic reality that lurks behind these "things" that, absent documents, just become disembodied medal groups. Makes you wonder about the other groups we have in our custody and, as you suggest, about the patriotic gloss that so often gets applied, then or now.

Wow!

They have to be approved and have permission from the crown to wear. Usually, permission is given for decorations, while permission for campaign awards isn't. Those approved are usually (but not always) published in the London Gazette and can be searched online. This gets very controversial, however, and in recent years has gotten wrapped up in the whole "well, I served, don't I deserve a medal (or six)" trend.

Yes, checking him in a run of Army Lists would seem the easiest solution. And all I have are a few Indian Army Lists. They have not become as expensive as the medals!

Interesting medals, especially interesting in that most are on incorrect (fantasy) ribbons.

I'll need to check other sources more reliable than the notorious MYB. I am at work and these are at home (isn't life that way). Will revert.

I am, unchacteristically, speechless. Thanks, Rick.

I suspect this is a more recent copy (= fake) made for the collector's market. This does not have the look of a Spink copy, much less of an original. Is it silver? Does the suspension swivel? A swiveling suspension would, of course, explain the obverse/reverse issue. I have never seen one of the Spink copies, only a very few originals.

Thanks for your patience.

And . . .

And, finally, from 1956.

Page 2.

The war ends and a new Germany comes into being.

Thanks, Rick and David, for the running subtitles. It helps to bring life back into these "things". What we do is so much more than "things"! And groups like this remind us of that.

Page 2.

Page 1.

Out of order, sorry.

And a closeup on the stylist wartime ladies.