Mervyn Mitton

Jerry - did you ever find any further info. for this medal ?

I remember the organisation - they were set-up to provide entertainments for the troops. Popular stars volunteered their services and ENSA would arrange a venue and travel. Presumably the ENSA staff would have worn a uniform - with identification and I expect they would have been eligible for various awards. The 'Stars' would have been given awards from the Civil List for service. They must have been quite a large body and it would be intersting if anyone has further - more detailed, information. Mervyn

South Africa has a long history of producing commemorative medallions. Most of those in bronze were given to school children. With this one I would suspect it was for the serving men and the people in SA involved in the War. Mervyn

Jerry - some nice pieces. I think the one with the gun and the three services is particularly good. Unfortunately, the ravages of time have affected most of the glazes and the overprinting. Mervyn

Steve - a most interesting group. We are always pleased to offer opinions on prices - if they are asked for. However, it is understood that they are just that - opinions. Neither the person replying - or, GMIC can take any responsibility. Contact a good auction house for a more accurate valuation. There has been a lot of interest in recent years for awards for saving life and helping animals - my own thoughts would be that these have to have a fairly good price - other members may wish to be more definite , but contact a London auction. One of our members - Paul - may well be able to assist you as he is with one such medal auction. Mervyn

Some very good and interesting detail in this picture. Firstly, the dress is correct, with the truncheon caseon his left side. Secondly - this has a good view of the first Metropolitan Police helmet, which took over from the Top Hats. You will see that it has a 'turned-up' brim. There are no examples left - and pictures are fairly rare. I have copied the link and this is the picture. Mervyn http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-74428000-1398679698.jpgclick

An old - and rather contentious thread - however, we are pleased to have your opinion. Thnakyou. Mervyn

Thankyou Jean-Paul. The only question that occurs to me - does this medal cover the various State Police Forces - or, is it for the Federal Police ? Mervyn

The ARP is a standard pattern for the WW2 period. In the 1st WW the Police rode around the streets on bicycles blowing their whistles to alert people for Zeppelin attacks. For gas warnings rattles were kept in the Stations - and again they would have ridden around 'cracking' them to alert people. Mervyn

I have not seen a copy yet - however, my PICA magazine (Police Insignia Collectors' Association) has a write-up for a new book on Truncheons and Tipstaffs. Called 'Truncheons - an unequal match' the book deals with many aspects of police collecting. He points out that this is the first major work on Truncheons and Tipstaves for over 29 years - which was when my book 'The Policeman's Lot' came out. I knew the author Alan Cook when he was a chief Inspector with Essex Constabulary and paid a visit to my Bournemouth flat to view my collection. He is a pleasant and knowledgeable person with a very great interest in his subject. I am sure this will be a valuable addition for the keen collector - there are so few researched books on overall Police History. I am adding his notice regarding the book, which appeared in the PICA magazine. You can order from this - or, contact him for further information. Please mention that we featured this on GMIC. Mervyn http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-94235100-1398334511.jpgclick

FRONT OF THE 1879 ZULU WAR MEDAL http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-54396400-1398265566.jpgclick Reverse of Medal - Note it is identical to the 1853 S.A. Medal - however, the exergue (the base) has a Zulu stand of arms. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-04748200-1398265700.jpgclick

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-19600800-1398264492.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-61603000-1398264660.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-56997000-1398264798.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-56997000-1398264798.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-71285700-1398264953.jpgclick This post started on previous page. (page 11) The picture of the two fallen Lieutenants is incorrect in that both Standards were dropped in the Buffalo River. Only the Regt. Colour was later recovered.

(please note that modern Zulu spelling drops the 'H') http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-79035500-1398263144.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-97421500-1398263428.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-01774700-1398263621.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-23827200-1398263762.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-66159900-1398263950.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-75273100-1398264068.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-36622600-1398264266.jpgclick

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I have been working for a time on an article to cover the Battle of Isandlawana - which the British lost to the Zulus in 1879. However, I was recently given a magazine , published in Sth. Africa and called Panorama. This was a commemorative edition put out to cover the 100th anniversary of the Battle - now 35 years ago. I think it was well written and interesting for the detail - the people who contributed are all given credit on the pages. Since I am not really up to typing a long article at this time, I am going to show all the pages - I hope you find it of interest. Mervyn http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-82907800-1398261590.jpgclick

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With the start of World War 1 so many men wanted to join the Colours to fight for their Country. Many of them were friends from similar backgrounds and suburbs of bigger Cities - the Govt. came-up with the brilliant idea of letting them join together and be posted to the same Regiments. They became known as the PALS (a British slang word, meaning friends) Battalions. Friends of mine in Knutsford - just outside of Manchester - sent me this interesting cutting from their local paper. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-6209-0-55371200-1398259813.jpgclick

You would be unwise to do more then give it a good clean. The damage is over the King's Crown. Very nice that they included the Battle Honour for the Boer War. Mervyn

The whistle is a police pattern - down to the chain and the hook (which went in a buttonhole on the tunic). Using the same dies they also produced for the military - and in this case at the top of the whistle is the Broad Arrow of the Board of Ordnance. 1916 is the date of manufacture. Worth about 40 pounds. Mervyn

Jerry - after the 1st WW had ended, many families wanted to remember relatives who had been killed. Companies set-up many different styles of small memorials - where the soldier's details could be added. Many of these were sold by post - with the details already added. I think you will find that this was something similar - and the listing of countries at the end would allow it to be sold in all of them. You will note that apart from the Union Jack there is no Crown or, mention of a specific country. Mervyn

Your Amish background is showing - that is if they like drawers as much as you do ? One question - how do you remember where you've put what - and in which drawer............. Good article - as always - but does leave a few questions ? Mervyn

Hello Nathan - welcome to GMIC. Re-reading Terry's post it sounded as if he had returned it to the auction house. Should he not see your post to make a reply, let me know and I will ask the Chairman if there is a telephone no. on his application. Mervyn

Hi Timo. Do you think this has a military use - seems very small and 'fiddly' for most pieces of equipment. I can't make out the full marks - I think the Anchor is there for Birmingham - can you make out a date letter ? Mervyn