Mervyn Mitton

Paul - sorry to hear of your loss. Do you not have a claim against the seller - he is the one who has forgotten the details ? I hope members will keep an 'eye open' for them. Mervyn

There is a difference between an ADC and an Equerry to the Sovereign. Usually both of these would have officers at about this level - however, the senior Equerry to the Monarch is a General and is known as the Equerry General. Remember, that Equerries are permanent appointments - Aides could be for any period - often for a particular occasion or, visit. All officers who have served in this capacity have the right to wear the Sovereign's cypher - in miniature - beneath the rank badge. This also applies to other senior members of the Family. You can therefore - have several cyphers to one officer, covering different members of the Royal Family. Mervyn

Nightbreak - as you say George 4th (1820-30). This style is known as a Baluster shape and was in common use, particularly around the Manchester area. This one is in poor condition - one of the problems with old truncheons is that when a hammer is needed - they were often substituted. You can actually see the cut cross nail heads. The rest of the body is still nicely polished - they served as both a tipstaff and an emergency weapon - usually about 7 to 10 inches long ( 18-27cm). With this condition I think up to 150 pounds would be ample ($240) Mervyn

Jean-Paul. Thankyou for taking the trouble to show this list. When there is a change of Government there is always some confusion with medals and awards. This listing brings everything up to date. Mervyn

PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON BORN 28 DECEMBER 1856 - DIED 3 FEBRUARY 1924 HE WAS THE 28 TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND HELD OFFICE FROM 4 MARCH 1913 TO 4 MARCH 1921 AN ASTUTE DEMOCRAT HE KEPT THE U.S. OUT OF THE WAR DURING HIS FIRST TERM. THERE WAS STILL STRONG ANTI- BRITISH SENTIMENT AND MANY OF THE POPULATION WERE GERMAN. HOWEVER, ON RE-ELECTION IN 1916 HE REALISED THAT AMERICA WAS NEEDED. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING HIS COUNTRY INTO THE STRUGGLE. HE WAS A DOUR MAN AND A STRONG RACIST - HOWEVER, WE MUST REMEMBER THE TIMES. HE WAS AN IMPORTANT FRIEND TO THE WEST.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2014/post-6209-0-00149600-1394024424.jpgCLICK RAYMOND POINCARE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE BORN 20 AUGUST 1860 - DIED 15 OCTOBER 1934 A SKILLED POLITICIAN HE SERVED FRANCE THREE TIMES AS PRIME MINISTER. HE WAS PRESIDENT FROM 1913 TO 1920. VERY ANTI-GERMAN HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RE-OCCUPATION OF THE RHINELAND IN 1923 WHEN HE WAS PRIME MINISTER.

MEHMED V th. RASHAD OTTOMAN SULTAN AND CALIPH BORN 3 NOVEMBER 1844 - DIED 4 JULY 1918 HE WAS THE 35 TH. OTTOMAN SULTAN. HIS REIGN WAS FROM 27 APRIL 1909 TO 4 JULY 1918. HE DID NOT HAVE GREAT POWER AND HIS MAIN ACT WAS TO PROCLAIM A JIHAD AGAINST THE ALLIED POWERS ON 11 NOVEMBER 1914, WHEN THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT JOINED WITH THE CENTRAL POWERS. (GERMANY ETC..)

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2014/post-6209-0-01099200-1394023160.jpgCLICK NICHOLAS 2 ND. EMPEROR AND AUTOCRAT OF ALL THE RUSSIAS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE TSAR (OR, CZAR) BORN 18 MAY 1868 - DIED 17 JULY 1918 ( BY EXECUTION) HE WAS TO BE TSAR FROM 1ST NOVEMBER 1894, UNTIL FORCED TO ABDICATE 2 ND. MARCH 1917. HIS ENTIRE FAMILY WERE HELD IN CAPTIVITY AND WERE SHOT BY THE COMMUNISTS WHO HAD DE-THRONED HIM. HE BROUGHT RUSSIA INTO THE WAR IN 1914 AND AS A RESULT 3.3 MILLION RUSSIAN MEN WERE KILLED.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2014/post-6209-0-68677300-1394022381.jpgCLICK EMPEROR FRANZ-JOSEPH 1 ST. BORN 18 AUGUST 1830 - DIED 21 NOVEMBER 1916 EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA AND APOSTOLIC KING OF HUNGARY FROM 1848 TO 1916.. ON 28TH JUNE 1914 THE ASSASSINATION OF ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND - HIS NEPHEW , LED TO AUSTRO-HUNGARY DECLARING WAR AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF SERBIA. THIS ACTIVATED ALLIANCES WHICH LED TO WORLD WAR 1.

(painted by Sir Luke Fildes 1911) KING GEORGE V TH. KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND BRITISH DOMINIONS AND EMPEROR OF INDIA - FROM 6 MAY 1910 UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1936. GRANDSON OF QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE FIRST COUSIN TO THE RUSSIAN TSAR NICHOLAS 2 ND. AND OF KAISER WILHELM 2 ND. OF GERMANY THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY WERE ORIGINALLY THE HOUSE SAXE-COBURG GOTHA - CREATED IN 1714 WHEN GEORGE 1 ST. INHERITED THE THRONE. BECAUSE OF ANTI GERMAN FEELING HE RE-NAMED THEM THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR. KAISER WILHELM 2 ND. EMPEROR AND KING OF PRUSSIA FROM 15 JUNE 1888 TO 9 TH. NOVEMBER 1918. HE WAS THE ELDEST GRANDSON OF QUEEN VICTORIA. HE WAS BORN ON 27 JANUARY 1859 AND DIED IN EXILE IN HOLLAND ON 4 TH. JUNE 1941 - AGED 82

Very unusual - Union Jack and the 'Sun in Splendour'. You say the tunic had Engineer buttons - perhaps this was his School or, Univ. ?

Sounds as if it has been put together as part of a display. Mind you - if it could be proved to have been from the Zulu War, then you would be looking at thousands. Despite 24 years with the shop, I ever only had one piece of uniform - that could be proved to have been from the 24th. This came from a Zulu Kraal and the left arm of the tunic had been pierced with a spear. You could clearly see the entry and exit cuts in the cloth. The arm of the tunic had a 'rusty' looking stain running to the sleeve, thus was tested and was 120 year old blood. What a pity they didn't have someone to DNA test - we would have known the casualty. Because it was so rare, I donated it to the Museum at Ulundi and it is sill in a sealed glass case. Blueman - just in case of a link - check the Martini Henry - what are the numbers and markings ? Mervyn

I didn't realise you were an anti-soukist ! I'll have them rioting outside your premises tomorrow.............. Good advice on the medal. Patination is most important with all types of silver. Mervyn

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2014/post-6209-0-58545600-1393844596.jpgclick

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2014/post-6209-0-70741200-1393844157.jpgclick This montage of photos date from 1900 and was by a local Durban photographer. The photos show various events with-in Natal - including the Relief of Ladysmith. The remains of a rosette are at the top. General Buller - top left was the Commander of British Forces in Natal. General White was the Commander during the siege of Ladysmith. I will show an enlargement of this below.

Impossible to say from these photos. The 24th helmet plate is one of the most copied - we would need to see close-ups of both sides and of the helmet. How was it described in the catalogue ? Mervyn

Dan - at the top of the Forum you will find a panel with a number of headings for help. Our Chairman has given some good advice on one of these with regard to posting. Have a look - practise on the Forum section set-up for this. Any problems please come back to me - I'm no expert, but we certainly have members who are. Best wishes Mervyn

I'm afraid that even at 20 pounds, you have grossly overpaid ! These fake bugles have been turned out - in great numbers - for a number of years. It is the Indians who are responsible - the Pakistani arms makers would do a much better job. I think every flea market in the World has examples. Mervyn

Paul - as you say a little research can pay big dividends. This was certainly worth the effort. Mervyn

Hello Summers - welcome to GMIC. We will look forward to seeing other items from your collection. The combination for Boer War, 1906 and then WW1 is not an uncommon one and although you have the number to follow-up on, you may find this set difficult to identify. It will be interesting to see if other members can help in the identification. Mervyn

These are the two boards of metal WW2 badges - http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2014/post-6209-0-24338200-1393495782.jpgclick http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2014/post-6209-0-26255100-1393495926.jpgclick

Last week an old customer from the shop brought these WW2 Italian badges and gold bullion insignia. I bought them and will be interested on your views - are there any of great interest, do any of them have value ? I thought the bullion ones were interesting. I know in recent years a lot of collectors have turned from German material with it's problems, and have started looking for Italian material. Despite South Africa being one of the armies that Italian troops surrendered to in Abysinnia, our men were useless at 'looting' and brought little back of value. We had a number of Italian POW camps and after the war many elected to stay here and become citizens. At Pietermaritzburg - about 80 kms. from Durban the old camp still stands - as does the chapel and the Alter Pieces made from scrap metal. I look forward to any comments. Mervyn http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2014/post-6209-0-07233300-1393495584.jpgclick

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2014/post-6209-0-54344500-1393335978.jpgclick Paul - look at the motif in the centre flap. The Hammer handle rises up the middle and then sweeps to the left to make a circle. This then becomes the handle of the Sickle.

Chris - Wilkinson Sword Company made them for sale - but, I understand that their expectation was that many would be purchased for presentation. The company went out of production in 2005 and their main presses and forges were sold to an old German sword company. The 1977 Jubilee sword was never repeated - so it becomes even rarer. Mervyn

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2014/post-6209-0-49903700-1393237113.jpgclick Made by the Wilkinson Sword Company this is a Russian Dress Sword. No scabbard as it was mounted in a case with other swords. The fold down hilt clearly shows the old Hammer and Sickle and this must date it to prior the political changes. The most likely reason for this being made in Britain is that it was intended to be worn by Russian Diplomats. The workmanship is of a very high quality and it would seem likely that the hilt has been gilded. Please let us have your comments. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2014/post-6209-0-51246000-1393237260.jpgclick