Mervyn Mitton

The 'beauty' of our Forum, is that there is always someone interested in even the most obscure items. I shall look forward to seeing your other images and also, Tony's. I will try to get some further pictures of my compact one - I think it has prisms. Eye protectors close it off for protection.

Found this old cleaning kit in a box. Probably South African for the R1 rifle and could date from the 1970's. I think Leigh could make this into an interesting thread - if it hasn't already been done ?

I always like that the Canadian silver medals were solid silver. Look at the difference on the War Medal - beautiful patina.

Perhaps it is my eyesight - or, the angle of the photo - however, in picture one, the Victory is 'off' centre. Has it been 'skimmed' ?

Neville - I can't find the KZN cap badge - we think it must have been sold. However, we've taken a photo from Colin Owen's book - The Badges of South Africa. Pity it's not in colour. I don't know what the badge is that you posted - as Arthur says - definetly KZN. Prob. a breast badge.

Chris - a good warning - as you say ,always seek advice as Paddywhack did. Are you still in the Antique business ?

These are the markings on periscope with handle

Ian - I think Tony's observation is very perspective (pardon the pun ! ) - perhaps it was part of a binocular periscope ? I think it more likely that it was made for a specific purpose - or, placing. The mount is meant to be fixed down tightly and is of heavy duty metal. Perhaps for a fixed defensive position such as an observation post, ship or, coastal defence. Could also be later then 1st WW. I enclose a photo of my two periscopes - both of which are WW1 and have the Board of Ordnance Broad Arrow. I have always been told that the one with the wooden handle was for use in the early tanks. The other one is a trench periscope. Details on the end didn't come out too well -but may be visible on the screen ?

Chris - I must comment on your 'comment' - but only in a nice way ! You have no idea what people do to their medals - we recently took-in a board of some 30 good medals - everyone had been stuck to the felt mounting with glue. You have no choice other to clean them - and that involves nail polish remover to take the glue off. They came-up like new and with no damege - now, a few weeks down the line they are already darkening with the normal patina from unpolished silver. This happens very quickly.

Nothing wrong with that Mike ! Our first month of service was ' learning beats ' - attached to an older officer. The first thing we ALWAYS learnt - was who was good for a cup of tea..........

Thankyou Stuart - I am very grateful to you. The dating helps pin it down - despite the Crown shape, 1877 would be an era where they were using tipstaffs. Perhaps he was a local Territorial appointment - or, a Magistrate - given a military rank to command troops as well as police. Ireland was very troubled in that period. Mervyn

Ian - you have 'broken' nothing - and we are delighted to welcome you to the Forum. I have two full size periscopes - one of which - I think - was for tanks. Try to post yours and we can compare - hope you are succesful, so many new members have trouble with images to start with. And - being a ' perfect gentleman ' I will refrain from any of the silly jokes about Wigan - it is a very nice town.

Kevin - I think we had a number of threads under a post on this Law and Order group - they are quite well known. Won't be before last Feb.

Well done Kevin - the collectors of these WW1 Specials lapel badges include at least 4 or, 5 members within our forum - some with very large numbers of them. However, I think you are the first to start systematically posting them in alphabeticical order of towns. Always good for reference material. It doesn't mean yours is the definitive set - but when others add theirs, it could become complete.

As Brian has said - this is an old question that always brings different points of view. I agree with the general rule of not cleaning - unless dirt is actually defacing the medal. Being a shop we leave the purchaser to decide if he want's to clean. With your MC the patination is not particularly attractive and I would clean. I have just purchased an MC in similar condition and it will also, be cleaned. Now, how to clean. Do not use any of the normal shelf products like Silvo. They are harsh and abrasive - as are all cleaners, the secret is to find the one that is least abrasive. We use an English product - Wright's silver cleaner. Comes in a small plastic jar , with a sponge applicator - you should be able to buy this in any good jewellers. Remeber, the MC is sterling silver and it is because of this that they should not be cleaned too often - silver is soft and if you rub hard the detail gets lost.

There is no Victory Medal - it is the 1st. WW War Medal. Defence - WW2. Coronation 1953. Perhaps they gave him the Decoration and he returned to UK for the War ?

Brian - Pte. Rowe - I very much doubt if he tried to erase the RAMC. We find this damage to medals quite commonly - it is the relatives who think the Unit mustn't be identified - or, even worse, they erase all the details since they think it a disgrace to the family to sell something so personal.

A good idea - but, I fear so big an undertaking would never be finished. In the 1st WW alone, probably half of the Force joined-up and this was why the War Reserve Specials were created. The other question - which must be asked - is there a real call for all of this information ? I have the greatest respect for Tom and will support him - but my thought would be a series of booklets - which could be amended as necessary. Why not published under the banner of the GMIC Forum ? I have thought for some time, that selected posts would sell well. From time to time I check Google for refs. to my name and under Tipstaffs and Truncheons. I found recently - under, ' British Tipstaffs ' a whole seies of Posts ( four or five from top on 1st. page ) taken from this sub-forum - I think it ran into about 5 or, 6 pages of direct referrals. Wonderful for GMIC and new members, since this obviously is happening under all our different headings. Perhaps Google would be a good place to host the valuable reference material that Tom is suggesting.

Remember Hugh's tip - Ctrl and + to enlarge. Ctrl and - to reduce.

I was a little disappointed that no-one could help to identify the officer in my tipstaff posting - would have been nice to know why he carried such a rare item ? However - onwards and upwards - these are also rare, but more identifiable. Cartoons and caricatures of your enemy , or, least favourite politician - have been around for many hundreds of years. I have a number well over two hundred years old and will post them one day - I bet Leigh will have some to add ? Meanwhile, these date between 1900 and 1902 and were envelopes intended for the troops to send their letters back home. You will note that there is space on each one for an address. They would not have required stamps. I think they are very clever, since they bring home to the families what the troops thought of the 'enemy'. Unfortunately, they have quite a lot of ' foxing' - but at 110 years old and a humid climate that is expected.

Thanks Neville. I don't think we had considered Prison Service.

Hi - Thomas. You should have recognised the one I posted. Yours is interesting in that I don't think it is Police. Obviously carried by the officer and very nice to have his medals and certificates. However, why I think it may be for the old Union Defence Force, is that there are no markings for SAP - which were - to my knowledge - standard. However UDF only had the SA Arms. The sword is in great condition - I can't see the 'knot' well, but it looks to be the SA pattern, which didn't swell into a 'teardrop' - but finished off with the leather having little cuts. Haven't seen you GMIC for a while - is all well ?

They look very impressive framed. I will have some of mine sorted out in the UK - see if there are any different patterns. I see you are now up to 11 pages - who would have ' thunk ' Specials could maintain this interest. Well done.