Theodor

and another one

And the Sultan's tughra

The maker

A little closer

"Turkish militaria" is said in the title, so lets have a look at somedifferent Turkish things - the weapons. Here is one typical 1860-1870 Turkish army gun - Snyder. These were originally front-filling weapons, but the British military made a contest for their conversion - it was won by the American constructor Jacob Snyder. From a front-filling percussion guns, these were converted to back-loading one bullet guns. The hammer mechanism remained, it would hit a long pin that ignites the cartridge powder. So, here is mine:

Two small additions - a badge for good shooting and a membership badge and card of the "Union of the fighters against the fascism". The guy joined in 1948, it is indicated that he was participant in the final stage of the WW2.

I just remembered having a few more pieces. The left medal is "For Merits to the Bulgarian People's Army". Next to it is an Interior ministry award - medal "25 years Interior Ministry 1944 - 1969". The left badge is Excellent in the Railway Troops /these were special troops under the command of the Transport Ministry/ and the right badge is another type of Komsomol youth badge.

Hi Gordon, I am myself not very sure what is what... But here is a try. If you manage to read my hand-mouse-written numbers , they go like that: 1. Order of the Red Banner - this is the first commie order, given to army men. Could be awarded for bravery during war or for good work against "the people's enemies" during peaceful times. Piece of junk numbered 5172 on the back. 2. This is a GTO badge which means Gotov za Trud i Otbrana - "Ready for Labour and Defense". These are badges from the DOSO /Voluntary Organization for Cooperation to the Defense/ - a typical commie organization, engaging the youth /and not only/ in the defense of the country against the capitalist agressors An organization, including antiair and chemical defense, ideological training, sports training, shooting training, etc. etc....... 3. Another DOSO badge - "Ready for anti-air and chemical defense". 4. Otryadnik - Detachmen leader... something like that.... as far as I know these were worn by volunteeers who helped the work of the police /Militia/ at ceartain events - for example guarding manifestations. 5. "Excellent" badge of the Ministry of health. Newer version with paint 6. Same, but older enamelled version. 7. "Ready for Labour and Defense" 2nd grade - another DOSO badge, probably a higher grade than the one shown earlier? 8. For Long Year and Conscientious labour - not sure if it is for civil workers or for members of the Construction Troops /probably both/. 9. For Shock-Labour - this one was given to members of the Construction Troops for excellent efficient work. 10. Excellent in the Combat and Political Training - army excellency award badge. 11. Ready for Labour and Defense - 1st grade - I guess this is a later version of the DOSO badge, because is simplified 12. Membership badge for the Komsomol, the youth organization of the Commie party. These come with certificates of small booklets, my idea is to gather such, too, they are not very common - the badges are easier to find then the documents.

Hi guys, these days decided to gather a small collection of commie Excellent /Excellent this... Excellent that.../ and other awards-badges. Still these are common and cheap, but sooner or later will be over, so decided to use the opportunity. And they are quite nice, with lots of details and enamel. So, here is a fast catch:

Hi guys, do you have an idea what this is? Looks like a bronze button, with a n "eye" for sewing on the back side. But why there is an year written on the front? Maybe it is not a button, but something else? /even a kind of seal for a package of good comes to my mind.../. About 2 cm wide. So, what is it, what does the writing say? Thanks!

Yes, here is closer

Well, see

Male nurse?

Just great, Gentlemen, just great!!!

Hi Tony! Measured them again, actually 27 mm, not 26. But still far from the 37 Hotchkiss

Hi guys, I've always liked very much the trench art pieces and here is something I got yesterday. A set of cups for brandy. The tray is made probably from a bigger cal. artillery case, while the cups are from small calliber. On the bottom is written, that it is from the soldiers at the South front, 1917 - this is the Southern Balkan front, seems a group of soldiers has made it for an officer. Chhers About the cups - from what brass were they made, for what weapon? On the botton the marking is D.W. u. M. /Deutsche Waffen und Monicion sp.? maybe?/ and a single letter K. The diameter is about 26 mm

Hi Kev! REX of course! Have typed the wrong letter

Hi guys, at last got a Wehrmacht shovel! It is marked REX 1943 and a head in a circle - who's that manufacturer?

Hi guys, can you tell me, who is the manufacturer of this shovel, here is the emblem. Thanks!

The second one, maybe Serbian??

Kev, is that you on the left?? Wow, that strong Romanian sun!!!

Really outstanding!!!! Great, unique collection!!!

Kevin, as far as I know, there were no Bulgarians at Gallipoli. All the Turkish orders were given to the Bulgarians for the fighting elsewhere in the Balkans, a friendly gesture, but for sure in no connection to Gallipoli.

Please, clarify this for me: were the orders "upgraded" from painted to enamel version during the war, or postwar? If this "beautification" was done postwar, this automatically eliminates the Bulgarian officers from that process. In other words it would mean that they have originally received enamelled orders

Lets think about that: Many Bulgarian officers got the Turkish star. Very oftenly you can spot it on the period photos. From time to time the orders surface on the antiques market /speaking the whole country/. From the ones that I have seen or heard of so far, 4-5 were enameled, only one was the original Turkish painted star. And speaking about the enameled examples, I know of only BB & Co, no other maker found here /just to underline, these are my own obsrvations on a very low number of awards, that surfaced in the last few years/. So, from my mentioned poor observations, can we guess, how the Bulgarians got the BBQ? I doubt they would go and buy replacement orders - rather they were given these from the Turks??? Or, is it possible that the Bulgarians could be supplied with replacement orders through the Germans in the Balkans? /though, again, it's quite unlikely they would spend money upgrading the awards, from our point of view it's money wasting / Well, just some thoughts, sadly none of the recipients is alive to remember those details Kevin, here is my example, I forget some thingsthe next day after purchase, but still very happy with that one!!