Hendrik

Hello Gents, If my information is correct, just over 50 bars (52, 54 ?) were at one point proposed for wearing on the British War Medal 1914-1920. The British government soon came to the conclusion that awarding such a variety and amount of bars would be very expensive and shelved the idea. Nevertheless, at least some miniature bars were apparently already manufactured in the expectation of them being authorised. I've seen Spink & Son being mentioned as the firm that produced these. I have a few questions in this respect : - were full size bars ever made ? - does anyone have a complete list of the then proposed bars ? - was Spink & Son the only manufacturer to produce these bars ? Looking forward to your answers, Hendrik

Hello Miguel, Indeed a neat display ! OK, so the medals aren't mounted in the right order and the last one in the row shouldn't be there as the higher class of the decoration only is supposed to be worn ... it's still a delightful little group and prettily displayed ! Small error in the title : not a policeman's group but one that belonged to a member of either the "Civil Guard" or the Fire Brigade. Cheers, Hendrik

Jason, Almost right : 1st silver bar after 1 year, subsequent bars after every 6 months of further frontline service. Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Jason, The bar looks to be gilt and thus replaces 5 silver ones, indicating 3 years of front line service ... Cheers, Hendrik

Gentlemen, Many thanks indeed to both of you for the interesting additional information and putting the medal within its timeframe ! Regards, Hendrik

Christophe, Eddie, That was extremely quick ! Thank you both for solving this little problem of mine Regards, Hendrik

Hello, I think the medal below may be Bulgarian, a commemorative medal for the 10th anniversary of something or other ... any information on it would be welcome. Thanks, Hendrik

Ciao Enzo, Many thanks for clearing this matter up ! Best regards, Hendrik

Hello Ulsterman, Unfortunately, there's no such list. Cheers, Hendrik

Hello All, The "I" on the reverse as well as the suspension type point to the above knight class of the Leopold Order having been manufactured by the firm of Wolfers in Brussels. Laurence : that is the correct order of precedence Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Noor, For what it's worth : the Belgian "Military Decoration, Article 4, 2nd class" has the King Leopold II cypher on its reverse and was thus awarded between 1865 and 1910 ... it's likely to be an award for lifesaving. Cheers, Hendrik

Hello JimZ, The picture is a bit fuzzy (but that's how I received it) ... could be LIMB but I think it's LIME - it's supposed to be the name of the recipient of the medal concerned. Cheers, Hendrik

Hello All, I was sent a couple of pictures of this named medal but have no further information on it at all. Couldn't find it in the usual reference sources so any help in identifying it and learning about its creation and award criteria would be welcome ! Looks as if it's an Italian Republic issue but could it be an unofficial one ? Here's the pictures : Thanks ! Hendrik

... and some National Defence Medals' stuff, classes 1 - 3 : Cheers, Hendrik P.S. Ulsterman : I'm off to a militaria sale in Paris on the 20th ... send me a PM on what you would like and I'll see what I can find ...

Hello Gents, A couple of pictures may help to confirm Veteran's post : Army 1st Class Navy 3rd Class As you can see, I'm missing the Air Force one Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Roeland & Christophe, I don't really know in which country - France or the Netherlands - the medal originated but it is a postwar and unofficial one and not Belgian. Apparently awarded to those French soldiers that came to the aid of the Low Countries and, more in particular, were at some time early in the Second World War fighting the German invaders in the south of the Netherlands. Similar postwar and unofficial medals exist for other events, e.g. Dunkirk Medal, Gembloux Medal, ... Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Chris, You were looking with the wrong medal : the Atlantique bar belongs with the WW2 Commemorative Medal ... Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Simon, Rather than a military pass, I think this is the man's military driving licence. Great set of documents !!! Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Zowen, London-made and on the 1st type ribbon is extremely rare !!! Can't even begin to think about a price for it ... Thank you for showing it ! Hendrik

Hello Stefan, This type of crown suspension dates from ca. 1950 and is still in use today. So, quite probably an early 1950's example although, contrary to regulations, unilingual pieces are still made today if the customer so desires ... Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Rick, I guess the answer must be yes : plain with only the inscriptions ... Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Tim, The shape of the crown (in the suspension) usually gives a very good first indication that something is afoot ... Cheers, Hendrik

Nice one, Chris ! It commemorates participation in the so-called "Rif War" in which some well-known commanders took part ... amongst them the then colonel Giraud. Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Ed, Indeed, there can only be the proverbial handful left for this medal to be awarded to. The design seems to want to show off Belgium as the land of comic strips and cartoonists ! It's all in the eye of the beholder I guess Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Kevin, The few surviving invalids concerned will only receive an "Invalid's Card" attesting to their statute of WW2 Civilian Invalid ... the medal, when it eventually becomes available, will have to be purchased by them as per usual. Cheers, Hendrik