Mervyn Mitton

Anthony - I shall also look forward to seeing some of your splendid medals on the British section. Mervyn ps - modern SA medals (post 1945) go on the South African section of the British Forums.

I sincerely hope you are succesful - an important group. The two sons medals will also be interesting - one commissioned and the other KIA. Let us know how you get on ? Do you use the free service for locating medals in Medal News ? Mervyn

Jeremy possibly one of the Midlands Police Forces - they seemed to like the Lion over Crown. Perhaps one of the Forces around Birmingham or, Liverpool. It is not a rank badge - more likely an officer's cap badge. Mervyn

Kalebdad - welcome to GMIC. I have deleted your other post since this one has the pictures. I am sure you will get some good responses from Members. Mervyn

Anthony - welcome to GMIC. This is a very fine example of a POW carved coin - probably one of the best I have seen. Somewhere, there is a further post where I showed the booklet from the Jo'burg collector. Useful for different styles of working. I have noticed quite a few later copies of these coming onto the market - buyers must look carefully . Mervyn

Jeremy - welcome to GMIC. I tend to agree with Eddie's description - the Crown is either for George 5th or, 6th.. The Crowned Lion is also used within a number of Police Forces. Mervyn

Greg an interesting set of questions - I hope one of the members who likes researching will be able to help ? Perhaps if he had a WW1 set of medals they have been split in the family - there must also be the possibility that he was carrying his Father's award ? Mervyn

Helps to clear a problem for future groups. Thankyou. With the Defence Medal I understand that Sth. Africans qualified for it by spending time in British camps preparing for Italy ? Mervyn

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2012/post-6209-0-25173600-1346859400.jpgclick

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With Full acknowledgements to The Medal Yearbook. (The one medal book we all need.) http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2012/post-6209-0-43850000-1346858641.jpgclick

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................................................................http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2012/post-6209-0-50044600-1346856501.jpgclick........................................................ This is a fairly standard South African World War 2 Group of medals. From right : Italy Star - Defence Medal - War Medal - Africa Medal. Nothing very unusual - the Africa Medal is 1oz. of silver and is mainly a Sth. African award - however, what about a 39/45 Star ? Normally, I would assume that it was missing - but, his issue certificate is with other papers and it is not ticked. He was with the Air Force and obtained a trade certificate, Also, amongst his papers was his discharge paper - this makes quite interesting reading. Please let me have your thoughts on why his 39/45 Star was not awarded ?

Thankyou Joy - strange to think I've never seen one before. Only another 24 years for mine.................... Mervyn

Thankyou MB - and welcome to GMIC. The overall information that has been provided is not only amazing, but also, interesting and informative. I knew little about this Movement - did any of them get to positions of importance after 1947. I expect many of these 'sheets' must have been circulated - although I doubt if all would have had the metal badge attached. I somehow doubt that too many of them still survive. Thankyou everyone for taking the time to add info. - and hopefully, more is to come ? Mervyn

This is an interesting photo in that it shows the tolerance of Zulus towards those unfortunate to be born Albino. Many tribes in Africa take this as a sign of badluck and the babies do not survive. Note the quality of the lovely beadwork - all traditional items that vary with the age and married status of the girls and women. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2012/post-6209-0-38700000-1346599182.jpgclick

Three of the King's daughters. The ones wearing (more) leopard skins have reached maturity - the younger girl will remain bare breasted until she does. However, this is traditional dress - most of the time they wear Western style clothing. One should remember - there were no Kings until the white settlers arrived and they took up the title. The correct title is Paramount Chief or, Chief over Chiefs. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2012/post-6209-0-56112800-1346598699.jpgclick

Some of the ten thousand Reeds being held aloft. click

You will see from this picture how important traditional weapons are to Zulus. They are allowed to carry them on important occasions. The King is on the left - the other man is a Provincial minister for KwaZulu Natal. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2012/post-6209-0-10612700-1346598261.jpgclick

I have a number of items to post on this thread - including some rare weaponry. I will try to add them over the next few weeks. Meanwhile - this weekend was the Annual Reed Dance - performed before the Zulu King. The original purpose was for young girls - who were still virgins - to dance before the King holding long Reeds cut from marshland. These were laid before him as a tribute. We are not talking small numbers - in the past it could be over 20, 000 maidens. Today it is usually over 10,000. Hopefully, they are still virgins ? The following pictures were in today's Sunday Tribune and other credits are shown. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2012/post-6209-0-20965900-1346597127.jpgclick

Joy - I must also welcome you to our Forum. This is a wonderful historic photograph - and something for the family to treasure. Post a picture of the Queen's telegram if you can - I for one, have never seen an example. The article says he retired in 1934 - that was two years before I was born ! Mervyn

Some good ones Mike. When you see a Regiment drawn up like this, you realise just how many are involved. Formations such as this are now so far in the past that I think many of our younger members have little knowledge of them. Whilst they are interesting to browse, our Forces are so differently organised these days that they find it difficult to comment. Shame - but that;s the march of history.................Mervyn

I think I have one in the shop. Will have a look to see if the ribbon is long enough to cut you a piece. Mervyn

Buckland - welcome to GMIC. A very lucky fiind , some of these old diaries contain a lot of ref. material - even if they just seem to have daily notes. Pick a few of the more interesting pages to post - would be very interesting. Mervyn