Tony Farrell

No, it's just the image that makes it look a bit thin at the 6 O'clock: the naming's fine. It's part of a TF pair to a Serjeant in the Loyals (North Lancashires).

I agree that it is frustrating - in part. The reason is that the RAF differentiates between trade & rank - unlike the RN. Rank appears on the medal, not trade: ergo X1234567 SAC J BLOGGS RAF and not X1234567 GNR J BLOGGS RAF Regt. Much to the chagrin of Rock Apes (& Penguins), they are 'aircraftsmen' - Gunner being their trade and not rank. As for the Snowdrops? Well... let's not go 'there' eh?

These are indeed splendid rewards. Unlike the GVI variant, the GV awards are very seldom seen, and it's one of the few awards that I have not actually encountered.

These are not 'medals' per se, but rather badges of office: worn on the cape/mantle of the ward dress in leiu of a cap badge.

Example of a 'ghost dated' reverse.

Although I purchased this medal as 'erased', it wasn't erased enough as to be unable to determine who the original recipient was. The starting point was the remains of the letter C at the end of the erasure: that's either Lab C (Labour Corps), MGC (Machine Gun Corps), or RAMC. There were four Special Reserve LS&GCs to the Labour Corps, just one to the MGC, and four to the RAMC - one of which was a EVII issue. Out of the eight possibilities, the surviving impressment traces pointed out to one man. This detective work - albeit basic - was done by a previous custodian of the medal. I have since confirmed that the previous work carried out is correct, as I have discovered faint traces of other letters (not visible to the naked eye) that the initial scrutiny missed. The recipient was also entitled to the 1914 Star*, BWM & Victory Medal. The man in question was Sgt. Stanley Maney of the 20th Field Ambulance, the first RAMC recipient of the three GV issues to the corps, who was awarded the medal under Army Order No.7 in January 1914. The other medals are representative of his entitlement and have been added for illustrative purposes. *August-November clasp

It's late and my head hurts, but Asquith's group is making my head hurt more than is usual for this late hour. Surely an Assistant Surgeon would be of officer rank? The re-suspended long gong has totally messed me up. Nurse!

It was also popular (albeit incorrect) practice for recipients of the 1914 Star to embellish their ribbon bars with rosettes to denote the difference between their medal and the more prolific 1914/15 Star. Likewise, recipients of the Aug-Nov (Mons) clasp sometimes wore the rosette instead of the actual clasp directly on the ribbon. The clasps had to be applied for, but rosettes were available from most regimental tailors and outfitters. The 1914 Star has a contemporary tailors' copy clasp. It's actually of better quality than the issue item, and far simpler to attach - being a slide-on affair.

The GV robed bust (or crowned head) of was utilised from 1919 until around 1930 - when the coinage head was used.

It's likely your man was attached to the Military Engineering Services of the Indian Army, though I would've expected his parent unit on the medal. He may have transferred to the Indian Army proper.

Awards of the clasp (or medal) for Air Operations Iraq have ceased. Northern Ireland is still current.

Unfortunately this example has had the details erased. I have tried (in vain) to get a ball park fugure on numbers issued - along with its brother: the King's African Rifles LSM. Both medals are scarce.

I rarely post images relating to LSMs due to a forthcoming book that I've been working on for the past three years or so. However, I thought I'd post this as it's one of my latest aquisitions (and I'm rather chuffed with it). The medal was instituted in 1903 and is very similar in design to the early colonial LSMs. The WAFF was formed in 1900 as an amalgamation of the colonial forces of British West Africa: the Queen's Own Nigeria Rifles, the Gold Coast Regiment, the Royal Sierra Leone Regiment and the Gambia Regiment, although individual battalions retained their own regional identity within the force. In 1928 this brigade-sized regiment gained its royal prefix, becoming the Royal West African Frontier Force. This change was reflected on the reverse inscription of the medal. Originally awarded for eighteen years' service. This was subsequently reduced to sixteen. Following the post-war 'withdrawal from Empire', the various battalions of the RWAFF gradually became absorbed in to the armed forces of the emerging independent nations of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and the Gambia, and by 1960 the regiment ceased to exist, as did the medal. It is, however, suspected that the medal became defunt in the early 1950s - being superseded by appropriate regional issues of the Military LS&GC. This supposition is supported by the absence of any WAFF LSMs bearing Elizabeth II's effigy. Confirmation of such local issues is being sought.

Good question. Quite simply, they had to put it somewhere, and as it bears the traits of a LS&GC - albeit not for long service per se - then ahead of LS&GCs, but behind MSMs seemed logical. Personally, I think Coronation & Jubilee issues should come after LS&GCs, but I'm not making the decisions. If only...

Not entirely correct. South African issues of the Military LS&GC were also hallmarked, along with VDs, TDs & EDs.

I have raged against the machine countless times regarding the OSM - a badly thought-out medal if ever there was one. A new GSM would've done the trick, but no... 'others' knew better. Anyhow, the ACSM is indeed an oddity: bearing traits more associated with LS&GCs. The maximum amount of bars so far awarded seems to be around the five mark - denoting eighteen years' aggregated 'operational' service - though I understand that there is provision for thirty: three gilt rosettes = 27 years + the medal itself. Here's a two barred example:

Ed, it's always a pleasure to gawp at these trinkets. Speechless with awe. I am not worthy.

I would be interested to hear from anyone who is aware of, or who has seen issues of the Military (Army) LS&GC to the following African countries before their independence from the Crown: Ghana ? 1957-60 Kenya ? 1953-63 Nigeria ? 1960-63 Rhodesia ? 1963-68 Sierra Leone ? 1961-71 Tanganyika ? 1953-61 Uganda ? 1953-62 These may have been authorised, but not necessarily issued. The dates indicate the time period of their possible award. (Yes, and I know I spelt verification wrong)