Mervyn Mitton

Titles for set

Italian - rear

ITALIAN

Titles for this set

Same set - rear

Some of the specialist units

U.S. rear

As requested I will complete the series - US, Italy and Russia today. The remainder later in the week. U.S. troops -front

Brett - what an incredible co-incidence that you should have such a similar set. From your background research it would seem that Rhodes may have been your chap Goode's immediate predecessor. Would make a an exceptional set together - any Zulu spears left ?

Milice - I see you are a new member - so, welcome to GMIC. Until the photo was sent from my remaining collection in the UK I had not seen this helmet for years. However - with the largest collection of British Police in the World - at one time - I was not noted for accepting any item without background. I also served in 'H' Division, which adjoins the City and I seem to have memories of City Police in these helmets with white coats. I am always ready to be corrected - however, I would like to know your background on collecting - are you in the City Police ? The quickest way to establish this would be to phone the City Police Museum and check with the Curator - should you have time , perhaps you could do this ? Mervyn

Just a reminder - no particular medal or, incident in mind. Lasering of medals to re-place naming is still going-on in a big way and this is just a nudge to non-specialist collectors to look carefully. Mainly it is the more valuable medals that are at risk - gallantry etc. - however, if there is a value then all are at risk Their favourite trick is to research groups that have probably not seen daylight for years. The correct medals are obtained - many being un-named - and then the laser engraver does a perfect job of entering the inscription. I have only been caught once - and it took medal experts in London three weeks to establish that it had been lasered. The UK source I had bought from acted honourably and took it back - but, this does not always happen. Look carefully - if buying from a dealer, make sure you have a returns policy in place - and remember, auctions are covered by their sales agreements - which you have accepted when you bid. Sad - but this is the World we live-in in 2011

Lorenzo - the ribbon may well have been replaced - but does that really matter. They are made to be replaced when worn or dirty - if they were to be permanent they wouldn't come out. Obviously a Victorian medal with a silk ribbon is more desireable then a modern cotton re-placement - but, these old bits are hard to find. I don't think on this medal that it really makes any difference. I think most of the GSM's I have for later periods. If you are going to collect from the 1st WW period , then I advise you to do a little reading. General Allenby in Mesopotamia and the French, re-wrote the map of that area. We split up the remains of the old Turkish Empire and established boundaries for many new Countries. Lebanon , Iraq and Jordan come immediately to mind. This arbitary division has caused most of the problems in recent years. However, a little background knowledge will help you when you are shown medals. If you are not sure about something - try to photograph it and post.

Lorenzo - a good addition to your collection. These early GSM's from the setting-up of the Protectorates are quite sought after. I would think perhaps 100-120 Pounds ($ 170) - so, your price seems reasonable. Try to find the RAF from the 1930's - they are worth a lot of money - particularly to pilots.

Thankyou Arthur - as always a mine of information. For some reason I always tend to forget that the Defence is not an S.A. Award - however, strangely enough quite a few local groups have one - so, I think you're right - Overseas Training. Egypt would be logical - however, didn't they have training camps in Tunisia and Libya prior to the Inavasion of Sicily ? Being captured territories would that count for a Defence ? I can't do my own photography and forgot to check Owen's to see which badge was which. Makes sense for the cap to have S.A.D.F on it and the other one I had thought must be an arm badge. Fann was obviously a local 'boy' with being in NMR - so your ident. of Maritzburg College makes sense. Many thanks - I always appreciate your help. When are you coming to Durban for a coffee ?

This is the third group - again, with an additional medal which adds greatly to the interest. P4296 B.L. Rhodes. He was a Regular soldier in the South African Defence Force and would have joined in the early 1930's. He has the standard - 1939/45 Star - Italy Star - Defence Medal (so he must have been in South Africa until quite late in the War) - War Medal - Africa Defence Medal. Additionally he was awarded the South African Faithfull Service Medal - the equivalent of the LS&GC. This was awarded for 18 years of Exemplary Service. You will note the bar - this was for an additional 12 years service - so, 30 in total. This has the ER cypher on the reverse and is the pre-1961 pattern. He was the Sgt.Major for the S.A.D.F. band - based in Pretoria. His Insignia are at the top of the board and the one on the right is an older version - probably the 1930's.

Fann's group reverse

Fann's group

I have had some nice South African medal groups come-in over the last week - since they are variations on a theme - I will make them one post. This first board is interesting in that he served in a local regiment prior to the outcome of war. He was with one of South Africa's oldest regiments - The Natal Mounted Rifles. They served in both Boer Wars as Mounted Infantry - ans still have this designation, although today they train with tanks. His original NMR insignia was present - as was also the wartime standard S.A. insignia that was used for some units. He was a Company Sgt.Major and his brass and desert cloth insignia are shown. He was 1307 R.J.G.Fann. 39/45 - Africa Star - with 8th Army Bar. (Like most Sth. Africans he served through the campaign in Abysinnia and then into Libya. Our Forces were attached to the 8th Army when F.M. Montgomery took command. ) War Medal - and the Africa Service Medal. Finally he was given the Efficiency Medal - war service counted as double and we find many pre-war part timers became eligible. This Efficiency is the sought after bi-lingual South African version - English and Afrikaans. His rank is shown as S/Sgt (Staf Sergeant). In the two top corners are bronze medallions he won aged 15 for athletics. Also present are his conduct chevrons and the two red epaulettes which were worn by South Africans on overseas service. At the bottom of the board are two further medals - the War Medal and the Africa Service Medal. This was the entitlement for someone who served but, did not leave the Country. They are named 306840 H.V.R. Soans. The family have no idea who he was - perhaps they were friends ? There was an officer's gilt South African Police cap badge and it would seem likely he was in the 3rd. Police District. I haven't had time to research anything - if you have any ideas please mention them.

2nd set of titles

Reverse

2nd. set of 4

Titles

Reverse.

Four from the group

Rear view of group.