Chuck In Oregon

Thanks for the insight, Rick. Yes, those are unusual insignia. I can never account for the apparent discrepancies in groups, except that there is still a lot to be learned.

Chuck

... And the reverse

... And the front of his graduation certificate

This is the badge of a graduate of the Separate Caucasus Army's Cavalry Commanders Course, along with a photo of the graduate, one Noskov, and his hand-written graduation certificate.

The badge is neither proofed nor maker marked. It appears to be plated bronze.

By this time Georgia had been conquered/annexed/warmly embraced -- depending on your point of view -- by the Soviet Union. Uniquely, the Caucasus countries maintained a separate army, headquartered in Tbilisi, independent of direct control from Moscow.

I would appreciate it if someone would translate the certificate. I doubt if I will ever be able to read Russian cursive.

This badge may be uncatalogued and heretofore unknown in the west. It is likely one of the very few surviving examples.

Chuck

... And his shoulder boards.

... And this is what he looked like before the war, and his order book.

This is a group of awards and a couple of other items of Georgian WW II pilot Mikhail Bibiluridze. It is the only quadruple Red Star group I have ever come across. Bibiluridze once was a pretty famous Georgian war hero, but little-known and unremembered today. Fame and glory are fleeting, indeed, despite their price.

More images to come.

Chuck

Oops. I meant to post this in the Imperial forum. I have asked Stogieman to move it. I apologize for the confusion.

Chuck

This is the badge of the Keksgolm Life Guards Infantry Regiment, dating from the period 1913-1914 according to my sources. However, it does not appear in the reference books that I own. Perhaps it does in yours.

Avers is inconsistent with the translation of "лейб-гвардии" and I'm not so sure that "Life Guard" is exactly accurate, but it will have to do for now. It might actually be the Keksgolm Regiment of the Imperial Guard. I admit to being confused about this.

The badge is silver with white enamel and a gold emblem. It is proofed and maker marked. There is a small mark on the screwplate but no proof. It appears to be plated bronze. Weight without the screwplate is 9.72 grams.

I was not familiar with Keksgolm until I googled it. There is a pretty good and concise history at http://www.towns.ru/towns/priozersk_e.html .

This is one of several interesting items that I received yesterday.

Enjoy.

Chuck

I found a Czech partisan badge/star like that in Georgia. It was attributed to a Soviet Georgian soldier who served with the Czech resistance.

Chuck

Some very remarkable pieces, gentlemen. Thank you for sharing them.

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Hello Bob

I've got a few things due to arrive Tuesday that I think you'll like. I'm pretty sure that one of them is uncatalogued and completely unknown in the west. Stay tuned and I'll post most of them.

Meantime everyone, have a safe and happy 2006 and thank you for your company here.

Chuck

... And the 1940s document with an early badge.

MOPR would be an interesting field to collect. Let's see what you've got.

Chuck

... And here's the a 1936 Georgian MOPR book and MOPR badge.

According to the one-page entry on the web site of the British Library of Political and Economic Science, MOPR -- Международная Организация Помощи борцам Революции, or International Organization for the Support of Revolutionaries -- began in 1926. However, the earliest of these documents, the first one I show here, shows that it existed in the Republics at least as early as 1924.

By 1936, the book had had been modernized, at least in Georgia, and this second pin had been added to those available. The second book is interesting in that the front carries the organization's name in four languages, none of them Russian. The only Russian is the booklet printing information on the inside back cover.

By the 1940s the membership booklet had been reduced to a crude paper folder, as this Russian MOPR example illustrates. This was probably because paper and printing facilities were strategic assets not to be squandered on non-military uses. The early badge was still in use.

Now let's see some of your MOPR collectibles.

Chuck

I hate to bring up Boria too often. I have heard "Why should I believe that and who is he anyway?" before.

Let me tell you a little about him. He fought in Afghanistan as an undercover operator pretending to be a non-Afghan volunteer to the mujahdin. Think about that for a minute. He was unusually well qualified for that job. He was deputy police chief of a major Russian city in charge of anti-organized crime. Now think what you want about that, but it almost got him killed 3-4 times. He also fought in the first Georgian civil war after independence. I mean fought, not watched from an office.

His other side is that he is one of the most likable, open, and brilliant people it has ever been my pleasure to know. We have become close friends. He is an historian of some note, with particular expertise in Russian and Georgian royalty and military history. He speaks 5-6 languages well, including Afghan well enough not to get killed.

I don't suggest that he is the last word in anything that we discuss here. However, I don't mind passing along his comments every now and then.

I have met few people in my life that were worthy of admiration. He is one of them.

Chuck

The best authority whom I know personally is my retired MVD colonel friend Boria. I clearly remember discussing the cockade I posted with him right after I bought it. According to him it is an NKVD general's cockade. I don't ask you to accept an unknown authority, but he's mine and that's what he said and I believe it.

Chuck

Staff Captain, Pilot, 2nd Caucasus Division

* * * * *

Good Morning All

George, I like your aviation example a lot. However, would you consider a different attribution? Could this possibly be from the 2nd Aero Squadron of the Caucasian Independent Army?

I didn't think that squadron ID made it to shoulder boards, so that argues against my idea. I am only speculating.

Below is a pilot's badge attributed to the 3rd Aero Squadron of the Caucasian Independent Army. The numbered piece is removable and replaceable. I suppose that's if you were transferred or merely to simplify manufacturing by working with a single large piece and adding the number as needed.

I will grant in advance that this may be a division badge, but I don't think so. BTW, I think this is an uncatalogued piece, one of my very few.

Merry Christmas to all.

Chuck

No, there are no marks on this bud. It is fully lined inside, so where you might expect to see a factory stamp is covered with what appears to be a felt lining.

That is a black star you see.

I know that it looks something like corduroy, but it really isn't. I never even noticed that pattern -- I thought I was seeing things in the picture -- until I photographed the cap. Then it really stands out and you can see it clearly enough once you know. I think this is more likely duck-cloth or maybe a canvas than corduroy. Corduroy buds? Were there such things?

Merry Christmas to all.

Chuck

... And here are the photos

I have absolutely no idea whether anyone might be interested in this thread. This is the one and only budennovka I have ever come across for sale, and a decent pilotka.

The pictures of the earnest, young and likely doomed aviator are not related to the hats. I just like them and I thought you might. The 12-2-40 note is on the back of the picture of him as a cadet (or possibly a Komsomolist, I suppose) in Arkhangelsk. I lean toward aviation cadet in view of the other photo.

As I so often think ... I hope he made it.

Chuck

You don't see too many examples of that cockade around, either. I have this one example of the 11 republic version. Hard to find and expensive any more.

Thanks for sharing that uniform. Now I have something for reference and comparison.

Chuck

Ah hah! So you're the culprit running around doing all these good deeds!

...and just out of curiosity how did you happen settle on these orphanages in the Caucasus since there are kids in need all over the world?

* * * * *

PM sent.

Chuck

Those examples are most impressive and display incredible workmanship!

* * * * *

Hello Bob

I enjoyed talking to you yesterday. Call any time and be sure to visit when you come to Oregon.

George, that invitation goes for you, too.

Kindest regards,

Chuck

I keep running across these things. I've got to get organized one of these days. Stogieman might tell you that will never happen ... but then again, it might.

I believe that this is the shoulderboard of a civil general of the Railway Department. I've always been halfway interested in railway collectibles and I picked this one up in Tbilisi one afternoon.

Now let's see some of yours.

It occurs to me that railway collectibles would be good threads in both the Imperial and Soviet forums.

Chuck

... And here is a silver frachnik of the same badge. The badge is silver, and proof-marked only. The screwback appears to be silver-plated bronze. Here again, both metal and enamel are in perfect condition. However, you can see the difference in the enamel in this one compared to the one in post #1. This enamel is not nearly as high quality and you can see the imperfections that have been there since day one. Plus, the crown in slightly tilted. I doubt if the maker of the first one would have let something like this out of his shop with his name on it if that tilt is original. Of course, this has probably been through a lot in the intervening 100+ years and this could have happened after it left the shop.

OK, I've got a couple more, but now it's time to post yours.

Chuck