Mervyn Mitton

Thankyou Jean-Paul - as always this is useful and valuable information. Mervyn

Hello GF - welcome to GMIC. When you are dealing with medals of this calibre it is always best to have professional advice. Because of their potential value there are many 'out there' who are quite happy to make alterations and re-naming. Speak to one of the leading auction houses who specialise in quality medals - we have a member on this Forum, with such a background and I will leave it to him to speak to you privately. Please let us know if we can assist in any other way ? Mervyn

Perhaps civilian with this style of puggaree ? Hopefully someone will identify it - meanwhile, you maybe able to locate the books on Tropical helmets by Peter Suciu (member) and Stuart Bates. Mervyn

With the D of E badge it would seem that they are associated. I have checked all of DofE known insignia + Cadets + Rhodesia and Kenya. Unfortunately, no sign. Perhaps for a special unit - I certainly don't recall seeing it before. Hope you can find out - please let us know if succesful. Mervyn

This is the 1870's pattern helmet that would go with the Pouch. Officer's type - gold plated. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2013/post-6209-0-25251100-1380882367.jpgclick

I would say that was a fair price. They are not engraved very often - usually to Chief Constables and Magistrates. This adds greatly to the value. Strange it doesn't have PF's name. Certainly their pattern. The base of the tipstaff is made to look like a shotgun cartridge.......... Mervyn

These hallmarks are for Birmingham 1897. They were on the front to be seen, since the back is leather covered. The 7th. King's Dragoon Guards were originally formed as a private Regiment for the Duke of Somerset. An important honour - his private guard had gone to the assistance of the Princess Royal - Charles 2nd's Daughter. He had just died and his Catholic Brother - King James 2nd. - tried to have her seized as she fled to York. They were the last Dragoon Guards Regiment and are known as the Princess Royal's Own. James 2nd. was forced to flee to France - where he became 'The Old Pretender' . His son was the 'Young Pretender' - Bonnie Prince Charlie. Mervyn

I am going to be contentious - I think he is wearing his Dutch sword appropriate to his rank. Presentation swords were rarely worn in case of damage. Mervyn

I would say a later addition to mount on a board. Probably where the original lugs were ?

Robin - a nice buy - what did you pay ? Brian has rightly identified it for the approx. period. They were made by Parker Field and Co. - who were the official armourers to the Metropolitan Police. Many County Forces used them and also in Scotland. They were carried in a leather case on the belt - this had a spring at the bottom and the staff 'popped-up' when the case was opened. They are very hard to find with the original case. This has more ebony rings then is usual - but, otherwise is a standard type. I think there is an inscription on the lower half - please tell us the wording, it will identify who it was for. They had another version for County senior officers and for Magistrates - this has ivory rings. Parker always stamped their name - from this we can tell the date - so please tell us how it is styled. Mervyn

Hi - Dan. This is an interesting badge and much earlier then might be thought. During the later Victorian period , badges with only the Royal Arms were often worn by Staff Officers - and, officers not attached to a Regiment. With your badge, it is almost certainly from the Georgian period (pre-1830). I can actually say that it is between 1801 and 1816. This , of course, was the main part of the Napoleonic Wars. I can say this because the Lion is not wearing a British crown - but rather the Electoral Bonnet for the Dukes of Hanover. They became a Kingdom in 1816 and the Bonnet became a Crown. Queen Victoria - through the German King George 1st. had inherited Hanover. There is the strong possibility that this could be for King George 3rds. German Legion. Worth checking. Mervyn

Personally, I would say No. The usual Presentation swords were in 50 guinea and 100 guinea values. They were given by The Patriotic Fund and were curved and very heavily etched. However, it may well be a presentation sword given to him by the Royal Family. The Duke of Clarence became King William 4th and was known as the 'Sailor King'. Mervyn

Jock - post it on the GMIC sales section - lower down the Forum. There are collectors with-in the Forum for African artefacts - which are a good investment. Mervyn

IG - a good subject, I hope it brings in a lot of replies. How do the US Artillery regard their guns - are they held as 'Colours' as with the British ? Mervyn

Sorry Jock - I'm afraid that now I have closed the shop I wouldn't be interested. Try one of your local auctions - give them the full history and it should do well to a collector. Alternatively, post it on the GMIC For Sale section. Mervyn

Jock - interesting find and certainly not the usual thing in a skip. The spear is a Throwing spear - known by the Zulus as an Isiphapha. From the poor details it appears to have wire binding. The origins are in fact from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) - this would have been made by the Matabele - who were in fact related to the Zulus. The condition would indicate that it has been picked-up from a battlefield - possibly the 1893 rebellion. Value wise - about 150 pounds. What location was the skip located ? Mervyn

Well done Odin - a very well done display - with lots of good information. The only thing missing is a link to GMIC ? Mervyn

Craig - interesting ! 8 cells and a corridor - they do think ambitiously big.................

Brian - the continuation of this series was long overdue. I had missed it with the sad news concerning Rick. I do agree with you - add to any individual item and you add to both it's history - and, it's value. I shall look forward to future posts. Mervyn

Garth - you don't say which hallmark goes with which pouch. The one on the left is for London 1874 The one on the right for Birmingham 1886. Both have the Queen Victoria head for Duty paid marks. They are both nice examples and in good condition. Their value will increase because of the Regts.. Have you bought these for your collection ? I have a lovely pair of silver epaulettes to the 12th. Mervyn

Hello Technician. Photos are not always the best way of identifying old weaponry - however, I must say that my first impressions are that this has been adapted from a much later pistol. This could have been done as a means to demonstrate a match-lock. I could always be quite wrong, but the shape of the grip and the mechanics don't look correct. You say that it was in a secondary part of your Father's collection - this may well have been the reason ? I suggest you take it to a local auction - actually handling it should let them make a decion and a valuation for you. Mervyn

Good points Dave. A Country that takes pride in it's past history is one that will maintain it's heritage. When money is short, perhaps a point could be made for not maintaining a museum out of limited Force budgets - then, the comment you make about central Govt. becomes crucial. However they decide to allocate the money, the fact is that the public are being cut-off from research - how many potential books are buried in boxes and cupboards. Nick points out that many serving police have little interest in their history - unfortunately they just think of it as a job. I found when my book was published in 1985 that I had far more general interest from the SC then I did from regulars. I think retirement tends to bring out their interest. However, the history of Britain's policing is an important one - and something needs to be done in the forseeable future.

Paul - I get very annoyed over their 'snotty' inaction. I think we need to get the press involved. Throw an egg at the next senior officer you see - and say it is for the Museum. I bet that would get attention...............

This fighting axe is one of the exhibits. They were too expensive for ordinary warriors and were carried by Chiefs - almost as a staff of authority. I was worried about the number - however, I have realised it is an accession number for the early museum exhibits. I couldn't imagine a modern museum doing it so crudely............ The shape is that for a Zulu Axe - looks just like a hoe. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2013/post-6209-0-36900600-1379420512.jpgclick

The building has been turned into an interesting museum of how it looked in 1879. Mostly it is photographs - however, these old spears were picked-up after the battle. Most of them are the short stabbing spear - the IKLWA. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2013/post-6209-0-54860400-1379420241.jpgclick