Mervyn Mitton

Jeff - thankyou for that information and interesting that DNW had it for sale in 2009. Dan IM'd to tell me that the group of ten had been in a Canadian auction in 2010 - so, they didn't take long to try and make a profit. I have a feeling that this could well have been his Father's - then the dates would fit-in. I actually bought it for the boxed Decoration and only later saw this name on a piece of paper on the reverse of the box. Perhaps the family labelled it to show it as a bequest and that it belonged to R.F.R. Cosh - the Father could have had very different initials - and perhaps was in a different unit ? Should it turn out to be untraceable, it is not a 'train smash' - being one of the last issued makes it a collectable Award. However, if anyone could find out if there are any details on his Father - that could make interesting history, as we will be going back to the mid-1880's ? Thankyou Jeff and Dan. Mervyn

Name on reverse of box

The un-named reverse. Only hallmarks and makers initials.

Closer view of the front and the fine detail. Note the Royal Cypher for Edward 7th.

The placing of this award has had me thinking where is the correct place to post ? Whilst it is Canadian in origin - never-the-less , it is a British award - not a more recent Country issue. I think that has to be our criteria. This is a lovely boxed Volunteer Officer's Decoration. The hallmarks are for 1909 - King Edward 7th. - and since it was discontinued in 1908, this has to be one of the last issued. The original box is un-named, however, the hallmarks are for Garrards. The original Decoration was Instituted on the 25th. July 1892. The purpose of the Award was to reward Officers with 20 years of Commissioned service in the Volunteer Forces. From 1894 it was extended to similar Forces overseas. From 1908 the Volunteer Forces were superseded by the Territorial Army - and this award was dropped. There were eventually a number of replacements put into place - including the beautifully named ' Permanent Forces of the Empire beyond the Seas'. Sometimes, these Decorations are privately named - but, not this one. However - there is a label on the reverse of the box giving the officer's name and his Canadian unit. I will be grateful for any information that we can find on him - or, his unit ?

Hi - Pat. You'd better say 'sorry ' to Brian - he's the only one of us that knows how to move them ! In South Africa Home Defence was given the War Medal and also the Africa Medal. For the UK it was the Defence Medal - so, it would seem he was on Home duties. Remember the medal is 1 oz. of silver and don't rub too hard - silver is soft. I can already see where you rubbed the prints off.

Justin - reverse of the German one

Justin - the reverse of the British ones

Hi - Pat. I will ask Brian if he will move-it - he's the expert with shifting them. A nice group and with the Canadian Medal it is rather like the South African Bar which has the Africa Medal at the end. With your placings on the bar - you have probably moved them by now - however, correct order for the Stars is - 39/45; Africa;Italy and France andd Germany. The Canadian award should follow the War Medal - unless there is a Canadian order that says otherwise.

Thanks Hucks - I will do my best to track him down. I like items as personal as this. Jonathan - you've been missing in action ! Funnily enough, I was looking for info on the Dirk and found you are a Mod . - was it War Forums ? You 'little traitor' ! I bought a collection of swords a few weeks back and am slowly going to post them. I also bought earlier this week this Dirk + a sawback pioneer sword and - a French heavy cavalry sword from the Crimea period. I will appreciate your comments. Mervyn

I will arrange it for next week. I've just noticed you are in Alaska - I'm watching a series on TV about Bush Pilots in Alaska - brave , or foolish - I can't quite decide ??

The inside - a little battered - but all there.

The only addition is the helmet band - this was missing and I put-on a Met. pattern from an old helmet.

' alt='' class='ipsImage' > The changeover from Top Hats to Helmets took place throughout the 1860's - many County Forces were slow to follow the lead of the Metropolitan Police. Unfortunately, many of these old helmets failed to negotiate time and have been lost - fortunately not the Plates - people tended to keep these. Even so, a Victorian Helmet Plate is now a fairly rare and valuable item. This helmet is for the Warwickshire Constabulary - and I would think about 1880. I have had many offers for it - but keep forgetting I still have it in a cupboard. The photos illustrate well the early construction from 6 sections of cork - I am sure that Stuart will find comparisons with the military helmets of the time. ' alt='' class='ipsImage' >

Brian - this is developing into a very interesting post. I noticed I had a couple of old pieces from my collection shown on an early sheet of photos - so, will post them. They may well have been shown before - however , on a dedicated thread, I don't think this matters. This first one is an original "Peeler's" Top Hat - probably from a County Force as it is a little lower then the Metropolitan Police wore them. I would say somewhere between the 1840's and 60's. The original Met. version swelled out at the top and the inside had a wicker cage to give strength. This was also intended to act as a step at walls if the Constable was chasing someone. They were very heavy and soon replaced. The skin is Beaver and - of course - it was intended to be like the civilian headgear of the time. Peel tried not to make the uniform look military - too soon after the Napoleonic Wars and the French Revolution.

This is my example. I obtained it from Alf Boyley (Hi - Alf ) last year and he bought it in Durban. Very similar to yours apart from the tapered end. 40 cm. in total (16 ")

I will keep my fingers crossed for you that they are genuine. I am afraid that it is for these well known ships that every one is looking.

Close-up

Close-up of the Line details

List of owners.

This one is much rarer - pre World War 1. The shipping line was the - DEUTSCHE OST-AFRIKA LINIE and the name of the ship was D. USAMBARA (the D presumably stood for Deutsche ?) There was a note with the Tally which gives the dates of Commission - change of owners and name. She was 6000 tons - a fair size for those days. I thinke she was either used on War service - or. was interned. There is no record - would be great if she was a blockade runner. Whatever her history, this is a rare item for the ship collectors .

I promised to show a few Naval cap tallies - this board has pre 1939 - 2 of them are for shore establishments - there is also a Canadian Cadets.

A group of Royal Navy Midshipmen - about 1900 - they have Queen's Crowns on their caps. However, very close in date to our Dirk.

Lovely etching of the Crown and the Naval Fouled Anchor.

The Royal coat-of-arms - note Crowns on both sides are late Victorian. Unusually, there is no maker's mark. However, the engraving is particularly sharp and I think the weapon has been privately ordered and is not from one of the standard manufacturers'. I think - if we are lucky enough to find his background - that he is from an important family ?