Tony Farrell

It appears you've had considerably more success than I had with the island's authorities.

Alas not yet.

There you go.

They're unofficial but are worn in RNLI rig. Unlike the RHS/Stanhope medals (which are recognised bravery awards), they would not be worn in 'military' uniform. Other than maybe the SCC, I couldn't envisage a scenario where a long serving lifeboatman would be wearing a uniform.

Regarding the recognition of long service (good conduct was always a given for officers, hence why no award) for commissioned ranks in the REGULAR (ie. full time) branches of the armed forces, this did not occur until 2016, when the respective service medals were extended - along with minor amendments to the requirement criteria. Officers in the Volunteer Force of the United Kingdom were granted decorations for 20 years' service in 1892 - with the Volunteer Decoration being extended to the Colonial Auxiliary Forces of India and elsewhere two years later. The regular forces medals are quite straightforward. The numerous issues to the volunteer, auxiliary, militia and reserve formations less so. It's a complex subject... and that's before we even include the naval side of things.

It's a CSI and a CIE most likely, i.e. the lowest grades within the orders and the most numerous, though in the case of the former (Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India) 170 companions could hardly be described as numerous.

A nice find. For a KAR collector that's quite a rarity.

I'd say they were either East African Rifles or Uganda Rifles, i.e. pre-KAR. They appear to be wearing a Gurkha-style rifles uniform with Kilmarnock caps that may have been adopted by a contingent visiting the UK for the coronation of Edward VII, as the local tropical drill uniform would've been unsuitable for the UK climate. I can't quite make out the medal ribbons, but they look jubilee-ish, so it could even be a visit for the 1897 jubilee. Nothing concrete on this, just gut. It looks like it was taken in the UK.

The MC was not originally conceived as a fighting gallantry decoration. Its tenure as a 'distinguished and meritorious service' award was short-lived. By 1916 its status had been redefined as a combat award - quite possibly due to the input of the (then) Prince of Wales, who felt he'd not earned his MC (though it fell within the original remit). The same could be said of early DCMs, many of which were well below the 'VC near miss' par the medal since became.

Thanks for posting that Emmanuel. I have only ever seen one for sale (on ebay) several years ago. The sale was closing whilst I was on a train leaving London. My sporadic phone signal - courtesy of numerous tunnels - ensured I did not secure it. I still have nightmares.

I would be very interested to learn if any members have an example of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in their collection. They are very similar in appearance to the Solomon Islands MSM.

I'd say 1887/97, 1902 and an Afghanistan worn in the (then) correct position - with coronation and jubilees to the fore. The campaign medal could be a NW Canada, but the Afghanistan issue is more likely. The ribbon tone is not suggestive of a Canada GS, and the lack of Khedive's Star pretty much rules out an Egypt. So... ?

They're most likely stores or manufacturer's batch contract numbers - the Victorian equivalent of NSNs or 22Cs - and not individual service numbers. It appears to be an 1887 dated tunic of the 18th Hussars pattern.

It's known as a forage cap - or camp hat, tent cap etc. Essentially a peakless soft bonnet worn in undress uniform as opposed to shakos or helmets. Typically worn around camp for training, it was also worn on campaign in lieu of standard regimental head dress - particularly if such had been destroyed or lost. They lasted into the late Victorian era before being supplanted by Kilmarnocks, glengarries, Atholls and Balmorals, but one could say they survived beyond that as Tams and the GS caps of WW2 - which are not that much removed from caubeens and berets.