Mervyn Mitton

I think that's a very good observation, Simon. Would certainly save the equipment from getting scuffed and moved around. As Jock says - rare pictures of this piece of cloth. Might it have been at the whim of a local colonel and not war office approved ?

Very good points - thankyou Will. However, you say 27 were killed 'in the course of duty' - 'they' obviously decided the hundreds on the transport ship who drowned, didn't count ! There is now an official S.A. Award to commemorate the sinking - I showed it on the Lounge - Emblems of your Country.

Hi - Will. Another very interesting set - and from the condition, much safer in your hands. Our MWeb underseas cable is being repaired from this weekend and hopefully, Skype will then work properly. Best wishes Mervyn

Rod - the 1853 was in limited use in the Crimea War and is (or was until recently) still worn by the 17th Lancers. Now, the 1864 pattern - get hold of those and they are worth a a 1000 pounds each !

Very impressive,Rod. I can see you will be able to add a lot to our World Policing section. We see very little for the various Australian Forces - perhaps a brief history and some of your pieces for each State ? Those two lovely boards of badges and plates would also look good in close-ups............ p.s. Top picture - the dummy with what looks like an army officer's uniform - is that Australian Police ?

Always an important part of overseas operations, we have had Hospital Ships back as far as the Crimea War in the 1850's. Perhaps one of our Navy 'buffs' can tell us if Britain does in fact still have any in commission ? I seem to remember that CANBERRA was converted for this purpose in the Falklands War ? The Royal Yacht was of course always intended to have a secondary use as one. These two badges have just been brought-in - hence my interest in this subject. The accompanying piece of paper reads : SISTER MORTON. SERVED ON HOSPITAL SHIP ' AMRA ' IN 2ND. WORLD WAR. She has just passed away,so we cannot ask her. I feel that these are possibly badges of rank for a hospital sister - and two would indicate one for each epaulette. They are made from brass with inlaid enamel. However, I don't recognise the pattern - did Hospital Ships have their own, specially formed, staff ? Will be interesting to see what info. can be found. I will show a picture of the reverse.

Jock - so did we....... There is a another Zulu thread on their weaponry - lower down on the pages.

Thankyou Jock - a nice clear photo. Interesting that it looks like a pocket - in sporran shape - is shown at the front.

Thankyou Scott - I don't think I've ever been sent a special picture. Usually I get abuse.......... (just joking - if they should ever do that I would 'set' Prosper onto them !) What exactly are his functions - I am presuming security for historic objects ? I was actually, particularly interested in the 'Tomb for the Unknown Soldier'. You will be aware that this originated in Britain following WW1. Many other Countries have followed the custom - but, I wasn't aware that Iraq was one. I don't suppose you have a closer picture ? Best wishes Mervyn

Hi - Rod. A nice display and good ref. material. Like you, I think the top one has to be the mounted officer. I expect Stuart will be interested in this pith helmet - I must draw his attention. The sword looks like the British trooper's sword - however, the last pattern was in 1899. Could you do a few pictures and for any engraving and the maker. I think you - as a new member - are restricted on the sizes of pictures, so yours have come out well. The rule may have changed - I am only a member. Look forward to seeing the extra pictures - perhaps you could do a few more of the helmet as well? Mervyn

Mike - these are the other badges on the board. I expect you have most of them - if not all ? However, the board would have to be sold as a collection. Anyway - see if any meet your 'wants' ?

Nick - since Rod has brought this back to the top - I have been thinking of adding a full uniform and bi-corn hat for a Met. Asst. Commissioner to my threads on old uniforms.(1920 to perhaps still in use in 1960) Could you perhaps use it for publicity , as you mention earlier ? Otherwise, I will just post it on our sub-Forum. Mervyn

This headrest has just come-in - dates to about the 1930's and is from the Msinga area of Natal. I am showing it because of it's unique carved banding - almost a 'crossover' style. Just imagine the time and work it took to carve two large sides - and using only a small chisel - perhaps just a piece of sharpened metal ?

Scott - are any parts of the weapons made from gold or, silver ? The alternative , of course, is that they were heavily plated. If Chris has seen some in museums it must have been another way of showing your wealth - as they say in Britain 'flash gits !'

Hlynur - nice to hear from you again. Did the volcanic eruption cause you a lot of disturbence. You should make a post on the Lounge - we would all be very interested. Simon - I saw somewhere that Blunderbuss have moved out of Central London. Not sure where they went. I agree with you about prices dropping - but, only for the more common ones.

Hi - Scott. What an unusual and interesting badge - if only it could 'talk'. We see very little from the US on this sub-forum - which is a pity with all of the different Forces. I would say that this is exactly what it states to be - the U.S. Military Police and special duties - perhaps patrolling captured towns or, areas. I don't think it means he was patrolling US Army lines. I think that only someone with access to US military records could find out the exact duties and numbers - but, I would consider it a fairly rare item with this wording. See if anyone can come-up with a positive i.d.. Value wise - perhaps as much as a £100 ($160) - all depends on numbers. Another thought - British M.P.'s regularly patrol civilian areas checking on military personnel. Perhaps this was the equivalent for the US whilst they were in the UK and before 'D-Day' ? This would explain English for Patrolman. However, before going off on sidetracks - it needs to be established that this is not the standard wording on M.P.'s badges of that period ?

Rod - welcome to GMIC. Great to have another Police collector with us - take no notice of Colin - they don't understand how 'special' police collecting can be ! There will be a lot of members waiting to see additional Aussie material - don't forget it goes under British and Commonwealth. I think Leigh will also be pleased to new member.

This cutting covers the Peace Terms imposed by the British in 1902 to conclude the Boer War (1899-1902). I have split the cutting into two parts.