Mervyn Mitton

Pete - welcome to GMIC. I hope that with your interest in black powder that you will be able to add some interesting posts to this section. Please let us know if you need any help etc.. Mervyn

Alf - where do you find these lovely pieces - superb workmanship. I think an Air Marshall is the equivalent of a General - so, important. Do you know who they belonged to ? Mervyn

Chris - thankyou for your input. I will report back when I have more info. Mervyn

I would say that this is close to it's value - over 800 pounds ($1280)

Welcome to GMIC. There are not that many in existance - and are mostly in collections. You could try City Coins in Capetown - they do regular medal auctions.

Ed - I'm glad you've posted more of these ident. pins. They are well designed and make a lovely collection. I think I prefer Travis County out of these - clean and well coloured. Let's hope members start posting again. Mervyn

Paul - I had a feeling I had to wait until you came onto the site ! This is such specialised knowledge and I doubt if many members collect these. I am not disappointed with the price - I think they are interesting and represent just so much past history. Thankyou for taking the time to tell me - I much appreciate the help. Mervyn

Colin - as you say, an amazing find after so many years - and, so personal. Reading his letter , the item that stood out for me was his mention of the German saw-back bayonets. I hadn't realised that the Germans were still using these. The British let it be known - early in the War - that they would kill any one found with one. This led to most of them having the sawback filed off. Please let us know if you find any other info. ? Mervyn

The reverses

I was in the shop last week when a very pleasant young chap called-in. He had been on holiday to the West Indies last year and during a dive had picked-up a few old coins from the seabed. They were corroded - black in colour and I could see very little detail. We agreed a price - which I put down to old age - it seemed very generous to me for corroded bronze coins. Anyway - I had them cleaned and they turned out to be silver and with some fairly good details. I am pretty sure they are Dutch in origin and they were found within a trading area for the Dutch Antilles. One appears to have a clear date of 1789 - although the eight could be a '2' or a '3'. I will post them and will appreciate superior knowledge - if you have any idea on price that would also be helpful - I might just have to hunt him down !

Silly me - I'd forgotten what the document was for - it's old age !

Nice article - with a good touch of humour. Keep them coming. BUT..............what the heck was the medal ????

There was only this one chamois leather glove in the box. I am thinking he would wear it on the right hand to prevent slippage on the trigger when he was firing. The type of small item that gets lost with time.

His original goggle - a little motheaten. Not sure if they are WW1 or, WW2 vintage

Thankyou Pete for some interesting information. I hadn't realised they were both Bristols. I haven't anything new yet - will post if I do. I am adding a few extra items that came with the medal. This is the reverse of the DFM - it wasn't shown on the original post. It is 'Winged Victory' holding an eagle

Hi - Lew. Another lovely type - this comes from further North - more from the Western side of what is now Botswana. Under British Rule it was Bechuanaland. Although generic in style and with a crescent blade - you will see that it is mounted on a longer tang. The Zulus liked them and quite a number were in their hands. I must remind everyone - again- these axes were too valuable for the ordinary warriors. They were carried as emblems of authority by chiefs and eventually, by senior commanders with the Impis. All are now quite rare and valuable. Lew did you access all of these in the US ? If so, I'm looking in the wrong Country. Actually, following the 1879 War so many of our troops took good examples back to the UK that more originals come -up for auction there , then in Sth. Africa. Mervyn

Hi - Zulu. May we have a first name - it sounds like I'm shouting at a passer-by - since I'm surrounded by them ! The earlier axe I showed may well be Venda - as you say, there was trade amongst all of the tribes. However, the Zulus did make these hoe shapes - and also, used one which was exactly the half round shape of a hoe. Their main workmanship in metals was with weapons. The first axe you show - and a lovely example - is Zulu. During the 1879 Ango-Zulu War they had several occasions when our troops used their bayonets. This was a great shock to them - the Martini Henry - with Bayonet, is approaching 9 feet long (3 mtrs) and outreached their spears. The Chiefs put their metal workes to make a spear that had an elongated end - like the bayonet they feared. They had time to only make a limited number and they are very rare. The museums have examples and we have had a number through the shop. The one you have is quite valuable. Your lovely knobkerrie is actually an Iqubanga - or, ceremonial staff for use in the Kraal. I say this as it appears to be much longer then a fighting knobkerrie. The wirework is really wonderful. You will know that it is brass and copper wire and came in rolls from the Portuguese in Mocambique. (Delgoa Bay) I think it was actually the old picture hanging wire - once the Zulus had woven the shape they beat it out with a very hard green stone - which they used as a hammer. The Zulus exchanges ivory and hides. The offset ones are usually early - they also had a type that had a rectangular head. Mostly these 'snail' pattern are Swazi. I look forward to seeing more from your collection - particularly if they are of this quality ! Mervyn

Dear Major Steel - I am most sorry to learn of your loss. Being a collector I had one in my collection at one time - however , it dated back to the 1940's. They are valuable and since you have taken the trouble to contact us, I presume you have notified the auction houses ? I will make mention of this on our Lost or stolen Forum. Best wishes in having it located. Mervyn

Under our Guest Valuation Forum we have an interesting Libyan Order that the guest is asking for information. Should any members on this Forum be able to help him it will be appreciated. Mervyn

Brian - His books only came out earlier this year - they were an expensive set and I have been meaning to review them for the Forum. I think your friend copied them and sent them to you - with older things this would not be a great problem - but at 60 pounds a set he may not like to see this. I will add a short note to your post and give him credit - but, please don't stop posting things. Mervyn

Hi - Sludge - we must welcome you also, to GMIC. I sometimes think most Sth. Africans now live overseas. We shall look forward to hearing more about you and your collecting interests. I think I may have an SAP holster in the shop - will have a look. Mervyn

I was talking to two former members of the SPM at lunch yesterday - Mr. and Mrs Aissing (Bobby and Johny) She stood in for me when I was in hospital. They remember you well and send best wishes - I remember you now too - you were tall, had dark hair and lived up near Kloof - am I right ? Mervyn

Brian Starkey - Hi. I think your heading was meant to read Birkenhead - unfortunately it is in the body of your post and we can't alter that - not important. What I am a little concerned about is the origin of the four helmet plates you illustrate. Are they from Jon Weston's books - Helmets and Caps ? Please let me know concerning this - both yourself and GMIC could be in serious breach of his copyright. If they are his original work - please add to your post - or, another one and give him full credit. Mervyn

Hi - SP . I have seen examples of these silver tokens - however, I have never seen one for sale. They are obviously regarded as heirlooms by the families. They were issue to the Commissioner and the Deputy Comm. - the practise started with the first joint Commissioners in 1829. They are carried in a special wallet and fixed to prevent loss. I believe the original design was rectangular and the Name and Rank engraved into the silver. There must be illustrations - but, I am unable to remember where. Write to the Press Office at Scotland Yard and ask if they can help you ? I think we would all be interested. Mervyn

I fully agree with you Prosper - they have no sense of proportion - and certainly not of gratitude. Jean-Paul - thankyou for letting us know the outcome. Mervyn