Mervyn Mitton

Brian - what an interesting and different field, collecting these varients. Not sure if the South African labour Bn. existed long enough to receive this medal - a lot were drowned on their way to France when the ship sunk. I would say Owain's medal should be correctly suspended - they must have just attached it to a spare one - probably melted the original down for the silver ?

I'm sure you already know that he was a Stoker 1st Class.

David - please don't call me 'Sir' - makes me feel very old. Contact Chris - he posted above, and he may well be interested. We will always help you with any idents. and values - the knowledge on GMIC is really quite formidable. Personally, I am always interested to purchase medals and groups. Mervyn

He's a real poseur , Tony. Just a suggestion, but could he be a despatch rider ?

Paul - thank you for that information - much appreciated. I used to visit Wandsworth quite often with prisoners on remand - grim place. I have a couple of Prison swords, but they are named for different prisons. Mervyn

I think that this is the most interesting of the three - it is an original M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) with the presentation box. The Order was instituted by King George 5th. in June 1917 - mainly as an extra level of awards. Britain had got along very well in earlier years with quite a limited range of decorations and awards - however, the vast numbers of men fighting on our side created a need for additional ways to reward Gallantry and Loyal service. The original format had the figure of Brittania on the front and the ribbon was purple with a central scarlet stripe, if it was a Military Award - the box and stripe show us that this one was such an award. The other point is that the silver hallmark is for 1919 - so a 1st World War award. 1936 saw Brittania changed to the profiles of King George and Queen Mary. The ribbon colour was also changed at that date. The box is a little battered - but, bear in mind it is 91 years old.

This next one is the very common Imperial General Service Medal - I.G.S. - usually awarded to retiring public servants i.e. Postmen, etc.. For this reason it has a low value - about £20-25 ($30-35). They are named with the recipient - in this case William Stephenson. The award was first made in August 1902. The award comes in a very good case and is in fact, an attractive medal. The fact that is overlooked, is that in the official order of precedence, it ranks Number 29 - ahead of all the Military Crosses and most of the Gallantry Awards. I think it is so high because of the Imperial Service Order, which is 28th. - even so, for such a well made piece - why is it at such a give-away price ?

The following three minor awards recently came-in as a group and I thought I would post them together. All of them have been shown many times in the past - however, they are all boxed and I will put a few details about them. The first is the Queen's Coronation medal for 1953. This is a common medal - in fact 129,000 were issued - value wise about £40 ($60). They were not named. What I found a little unusual is that it is still in its box - and something I didn't know - came with ribbon and mountings for both men and women. Mostly you see them with the ribbon on, and the box lost.

David - I am always a little reluctant to give prices on the more unusual items - they can obviously vary between Countries. The Sam Browne is the sought after double cross over and in South Africa I would expect it to be worth about £120 ($180) - it would depend on interest. Add the revolver holster - which I don't think was part of the original - the polish is different - at about £25 ($37) , the frog, at about the same and the pouch - also about the same and you have a set that is worth about £195/200 ($300). I stress , that this is my opinion only - and you may find that you can sell it for more or, perhaps at a lesser price. Check with a major auction house such as Christie's or Sotheby's. However, at least you now have a starting price.

Skimmed and re-named - shame ! Why are your pictures so big - right off the page.........

Tony - unusual and very good condition for it's age. Are you thinking that it was used for amusement by the troops in the trenches ? I would have thought more for home sale, with the interest generated by the War ?

Paul - why did you think it was 'wrong' ? I agree with Graham that it looks OK. We often get the 1888 pattern bayonet in with the frogs and this one looks the same.

Photos will be interesting - he would have had to serve in China first and then come across towards the end of the Boer War - 1899-1902. What bars are on the QSA ? Are the WW2 loose bars associated with him ? Two stars would sound like active service and he must have been around the 60 mark !

Mike - this is the follow-on to the article. Will see what else I can find. You may, of course, already have Tylden's write-up ?

Peter - that' very interesting - I had no idea it had an Arabic origin. I will remember this for the future. Details for Scottish Horse. This is from Major Tylden's important ref. book on South African units. Not an easy book to find.

Brilliant - the 'pom-pom' is startling in it's detail now. Which programme do you use ? I will give you some further details on Scottish Horse when I can find a local S.A. history that I have mislaid.

Hi - Brian. A very nice item and made more interesting with the original box. I agree with Hugh - almost certainly a Lotus. I would suspect that it would have been given for the volunteers like Canteen ladies etc. South Africa had such an award in WW2.

Helen - a superb collection and very well mounted and displayed. I wish I could pay a visit - would make the effort if you have a ticket supplied......... Please show me what you think a Greek 'firebomb' looked like. It contained a mixture of oil + other substances we are not sure about. I always understood that they were in clay pots and when thrown by the catapault, shattered on impact. Best wishes Mervyn. Will look forward to lots more postings now ? ** Sorry Helen - we seem to have posted at the same time. Perhaps someone can move my reply to after your post ? However, I must say, the new close-ups are really great.

Haynes - how very perceptive of you . Must be a problem to be Anglo-phobic and have to speak ENGLISH every day ?

Hi - TT. That was what his widow told me - does seem like theft on a grand scale. Perhaps his children or, grandchildren now have good collections ??