Mervyn Mitton

Hi - Robin. I agree with you both that it has the look of the early ones. Why did I just know that a skull was in it somewhere......... Mervyn

Jerry - you have stumbled on a mystery here ! Sounds like a resignation for something not 'kosher' and then falsified papers to obtain another Commission. I would say worth drawing both sets of papers ? Mervyn

Chris - I think you might find that the dealer has put a lot of this group together - using the Mins. as the centre part. Never mind, you got some good items and the engraved cig. case is in even better in the new photos. Unfortunately, the case is not solid silver - rather it is silver plate. However, the engraving is hand done to high quality. You must keep an eye on what else he produces to sell. Mervyn

Mariner - you make some good points. Obviously the troops and Air Services will require a medal - but why a new one. The GSM with a Bar for - say - Kurdistan might be appropriate. Personally, I think this is such an unappreciated campaign. Bombing on it's own has never been fully workable and the way this IS army is moving I think we will soon be needing a medal for the Defence of Europe. Certainly the Suez Canal is at risk and our oil. Mervyn

Stuart - can you show any comparisons ? We had agreed that it was genuine in appearance and possibly worth about 200 pounds. What do you feel on this value ? Really more for the future as Kev. will have either bought this - or not. Mervyn

Probably the local Squire's house ? Lovely country - but, the poverty was appalling. I think that one of the best things was when Ireland gained it's independence in 1922.

Hello Chris - welcome back to GMIC. You say Leslies medals - is this someone that has been previously discussed - or, a new group you have just bought ? Are you ableto tell us anything further about his service ? The min. group seems to be the complete one , since it includes his War Medal - missing on the main group. This group is also missing the bar on the Africa Star. Since it is a British Group - and therefore, unnamed, it will not be difficult to add. The group is good in that it has Africa, Italy and France and Germany Stars. With this service I thought he may also have had a Defence medal. The cigarette case is exceptional with the map of the campaign area. Superbly engraved by hand - whoever did this must have had serious jewellery training. Usually they were made in the base workshops. Do you think the case is silver - are there any markings ? The badges have been put together and are not for his service - there are REME , Royal Armoured Corps , Signals and an RAF lapel badge. Look forward to whatever you can add. Mervyn

The first one - the pastoral scene, looks to have two women in Dutch national dress. Quite attractive, but, I can see why it was included with the other one. The second one is quite different. Nice walnut frame and the ship would date from 1900 - 1930. Probably a Coaster. It is flying the company flag - that should give you a start on identity. Also there is a red National flag at the stern - this could well be the red ensign, making it a British ship. There doesn't appear to be any damage - just dirt. I would strongly advise that you have this professionally cleaned. Most ship paintings - and this is an oil - are sought after. Also, is that a signature in the bottom left corner ? Good buy. Mervyn

I'm surprised you found French globes - the British spent most of the last 800 years trying to prevent them seeing the World. Will you be able to repair the one missing it's stand ? Mervyn

I can just see you in 30 years time - you'll be one of those 'hoarders' who has to crawl through the collection to get to the kitchen. Then all the neighbours will help to throw it all away and 're-habilitate' you. Never mind, I think we are all a little guilty of this vice of collecting. Mervyn

Thanks Mike - just the sort of article we needed to liven things-up. I hope others will be able to follow with more posts. You have to feel very sorry for this man - he is lucky they weren't still treating this illness with mercury. Before anti-biotics treatments were very primitive - and even then they could have problems. When I worked in Thailand we had an artist who was rather prone to the local girls. After the 17th (!) bout of Gonn. the Penicillin wouldn''t work and his treatment reverted to the old sulphur drugs. I think that changed his way of life for a few months - anyway..................... Mervyn

The Bofors was a Swedish 40mm gun in origin. They obviously sold the design to many countries. We had them in Australia and I did my National Service on them. Wonderful multi-purpose weapon. Mervyn

We seem to have a shortage of posts - please remember that this Forum is intended to cover South Africa, Hong Kong, India, East Africa. Really any Colonial Period history not listed elsewhere. Let's see what we can 'dig out' of our home archives. Mervyn

Firstly, the material is pewter - so, no bullion value. However, it is for King George 4th - wo died in 1830. 184 years of history makes this a rare item. I would think 500 pounds ($800) - posibly more to a serious collector. Mervyn

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-6209-0-23866400-1412593030.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-6209-0-38311500-1412593174.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-6209-0-82716100-1412593323.jpgclick

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-6209-0-03605000-1412592509.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-6209-0-61733900-1412592641.jpgclick Large spotted hyena http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-6209-0-05977000-1412592815.jpgclick

These are from a bundle of postcards written from Sth. Africa to the man's wife in the UK. She obviously kept them and they show a period and lifestyle that has long gone. They seem to date between 1906 and 1910. I will show just a selection. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-6209-0-74472200-1412591641.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-6209-0-36797400-1412591789.jpgclick A hunting party and tthrowing the bones.

Will have to be by way of an IM. Mervyn

Bill - a lot will depend on what is stamped on the base of the shell. This should tell us the Country and size of the ordnance that it was used for. From your measurements I would say that it could be a 3 inch light howitzer - or, perhaps a shrapnel shell, although it looks to have a thick casing. Brian, nice to see some of these unanswered questions re-surfaced. Mervyn

Rob - welcome to GMIC. A most interesting article on the sevice of a brave man who served his Country for so many years. We shall look forward to your future articles. Mervyn

tjones. Thankyou for posting this picture. I think it is either one I sold from my collection - or, a similar piece. This is not a Commissioner's Token. Rather it is a badge of office for a Constable of the Forfarshire Constabulary. It really takes the place of a tipstaff. The constable would have worn it on a silk ribbon around his neck. Somewhere, further back on this sub-forum, is an article I wrote. The Royal Cypher is for King George 4th 1820-1830. Mervyn

Jerry - you have maintained the flow of info. on this man's career - and it has proved of great interest. But then, as you say, that was the way people lived in those days. We must be careful not to get too political - tempting though it may be. DOWN Jock - down, I say.............) I wonder how much the value of this damaged old cap has risen with your research ? Mervyn

Azyeoman. Brian and I would like to say how impressed we have been with the excellent research and very interesting posts. That our members find these posts of interest is proved by the high number of visits. Please keep up the good work - you have our support. Also, perhaps you should be considering re-working the posts to give a good ref. book ? Mervyn

This picture is based on an allied propaganda drawing from the 1st WW. The original showed a German General sitting in the chair and the Africans being flogged as they carried his loot to safety. This was during General Smuts campaign in East Africa aginst Ludendorf. Mervyn

Robin - thankyou for showing the 'sister' head with the crown - makes a difference. Can you recommend any article (in English) that would explain the SS links to these heads - sounds interesting. Mervyn