Garth Thompson

Garth:

Are you sure that they are marked DRAGE PARIS as opposed to DRAGO PARIS?

Dick

It's DRAGO, I'm a poor typist.

Does the second badge have a number on the reverse ? This is often prefixed with G or H and is the registration number of the design with the relevant military approval board. This can be used to check the unit details, as well as the year when it was instituted.

Neither badge has the registration number. Both are just marked DRAGE PARIS which was used 1956 -1988 if my memory serves me correctly.

Garth

The Garter can be used without it's motto. The quality of this piece is very similar to my King's Messenger - even to the back - although there is no number. There is a High Court position known as The Tipstaff - perhaps this is his badge - Bombay - from E.I.C. days had it's own Court and an English appointed Recorder (or judge). I had a lovely silver tipstaff from 1810 showing all the appointments for Bombay.

I think your next move must be to contact The Victoria and Albert Museum. Find the right department and see what they can offer - also, see if the main museum in Bombay can help ?

Mervyn,

Thank you for your reply and input. Being in the US I really don't know how to get in touch with either the V & A or the main museum in Bombay.

Garth

A reverse view of one of the other badges. They all have either this type pin or the loops in the other picture.

Garth

Looks like we are on the proper trail, here is a picture of the back of the Thunder Troops badge. From all the comments I would think these badges are Egyptian. They all came in a lot of Israeli and Columbian Army insignia with a Multinational Force & Observers Medal and pocket badge plus the insignia we have discussed on this post. Since Columbia was a participating member of the Force I would hazard a guess that the Egyptian and Israeli insignia were aquired as souveniers by a Columbian Army soldier or officer. Additionally the lot came out of Florida were many Columbian emigres settled.

Thank you all for your help. Here is a reverse view of the badge.

Garth

#5

#4

#3

#2

I recently aquired these badges and have no idea what country or units they are for. I'm thinking either Iraqi or Egyptian but that is as far as it gos.

Any help appreciated,

Garth

It appears to be a locket - I think I see a hinge and a'button' to open it on the edges. Any info inside? A lovely little piece, BTW

Peter.

Peter,

I initially thought it was a locket but what you see are two pins that hold the top to the base. The enamelled top piece sets into the brass base and is held in position by the pins on either side.

Garth

#2

Does anyone know the units that used these two pocket badges. Both have the DRAGO PARIS hallmark.

Thanks,

Garth

#1

#3 reverse

#2

I recently aquired this piece with in a large lot of various british medals. Can anyone help me in identifying it. The quality and enamel work are very good. It is done in two pieces and appeared to hang from a chain.

Any help appreciated,

Garth

To one and all,

I am attempting to confirm or deny if a French made reproduction of the Great Britain Victory medal for the Great War was ever produced. I am not sure if to post here or in the Great Britain forum so will choose both.

This victory medal is depicted as illustration no. 158 on page 45 of M. Delande's 1934 Paris work 'Les Ordres Fran?ais, Les Ordres Coloniaux, M?dailles Comm?moratives, M?dailles d'Honneur des Minist?res, Les Croix et M?dailles, de la Guerre 1914-18, des Pays Alli?s'. Of note is that most of the interallied victory medal series are illustrated in this work, and there exist many specimens of these repro's including the Japanese, Czech, Greek, and US versions, as well as possibly the Belgian model.

It is depicted with a ball suspender which was common for most of the produced and seen French repro's and it is most likely to have BRONZE on the edge and the hallmark of M. Delande (a small square or more likely a lozenge shaped hallmark). I have attached a copy of the illustration in question, taken from an original 1934 copy of the catalogue (and a very fragile book it is; but it has such marvelously wonderful drawings especially of the Colonial decorations !).

Have any collectors identified an actual specimen of this variety as it is still unconfirmed, through two editions of Mr Laslo's work and the ensuing 75 years?

Can anyone help??

Regards,

Rob

Rob,

I'll take a stab at answering. I personally don't think a french made British Victory Medal exists. I have seen legitimate French made examples of the US DSC and DSM; and the British DCM and MM. The only reason I could think of that these exist is for french recipients and also in the case of the US pieces a shortage of US made medals in France to be awarded to US servicemen. Each country had it's own type of victory medal which were distributed after WW1 so there would be no real point in having a french made British or US Victory Medal as each country would have given it's service personel their own version of the Victory Medal. Hope that makes sense.

BTW I am fortunate to own a copy of the M.Delande soft cover French medal reference. I can't think of a better one on the more obscure colonial medals.

Garth

Thank you , that does clear up my questions on the various sizes and their use.

Regards,

Garth

LoH reverse

I recently aquired this 3/4th size (46 x 33 mm) LoH from the 2nd Republic Third period. I have a couple of questions. First the legend on the obverse of the full size medal is NAPOLEON EMPEREUR DES FRANCAIS. This medal has the legend NAPOLEON EMP. DES FRANCAIS. I'm guessing the abreviation was used due to the smaller size or is this a known variation in the legend.

Secondly, why is there a 3/4 size medal? Most countries use just a full size and miniatures. There seems to be three sizes with French medals; a full size, a 3/4 size and a miniature. Can anyone tell me why?

Thank you for any answers

Garth

Pictures from the auction

A seller in the UK has currently listed a LoH and St. Helena Medal (auction number 270415422991). The LoH is an oddball as it has the obverse and reverse of a Monarchy of July version but no crown. Any thoughts?

Garth

The DRAGO hallmark indicates the badge is from 1998 onwards.

Garth

Is there any way to do research and find out more about this man?

Thanks for looking,

Garth

The unidentified medals