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    peter monahan

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    Everything posted by peter monahan

    1. A mistake in the naming, rectified by adding the serial number last rather than throwing the medal out and starting over? Not sure how likely that is but... ?
    2. That one went right past me! D So, if it is a real medal bar, it is meant to go with the WWI pair on the right. It is a puzzlement.
    3. I like this better. Although the Star and BWM ribbons are swapped in position, and there is no Victory Medal, I think it quite unlikely that anyone would have gotten both the Star of India and the OIE. Typically those two come on a bar with 4, 6, or even 8 other medals. So, two foreign orders on an incomplete or, just perhaps, 'made up' bar. Sorry, I know that's not a lot of help.
    4. Just noticed this post. Gordon's British Battles and Medals, at least the addition I have handy, is not very good on Indian units, but it does list at least a dozen Bengal Native Infantry units. The 10th is not one of them but his listings are often incomplete and 'outliers' - singles to units not officially present - are quite common for the IGS medals. SO, as there was no 'Burma Infantry Regiment' except the 93rd Burma Infantry, and that not till 1902, my guess would be '10th Bengal' with a bad spelling and the 'NI' left off. Most of these medals were named by Calcutta Mint employees who were officially English speaking, but did weird and wonderful things with the English alphabet at times. If you would like to give the name of the recipient, that might help pin it down as well. Here or by PM. Cheers. Peter
    5. Yes, I have a friend who went to school in Belgium and is/was vefry interested in the Star of Benin. As I recall, a lot of the awards he discovered were 'diplomatic' or 'Send a batch around to the Allies, please.' and did not suggest that the recipient had any connection with Benin, Africa or even France, really. I had a WWI group to a British officer in an Indian cavalry regiment, which included a Roumanian Order of the Crown. The gent who found it actually knew anothe Brit who had served with my chap and said 'Oh, yes! Consolation prize for not getting an MC.' He had no connection at all to Roumania except that he served on the 'same side'. And I would never have figured that out on my own. So, I am very oinclibed to sahy that 1812 is correct in his explanation. Peter
    6. Hello Sebastian, and welcome to the GMIC. I'm not sure I understand your question, but are you saying that you have 30 'cards' with pictures of Canadian Militia officers on them? If so, yes, they may have some value, especially as a 'collection'. A little more information and, if ;possible, a photo of one example would be very useful. Again, welcome to the group. Peter
    7. That is a lovely thing indeed, Brian. May I ask your permission to share the photo on the South Asian Military Heritage Facebook page? One of the members there is shgaring 'badge pics' every day, including some of the State Forces units and I think the members would enjoy seeing this. Thanks. Peter
    8. The Bombay Light Horse was an 'Auxilliary Force India' unit - the equivalent of the British Territorials, and recruited from British resident in India. Many of these units were little more than givernment subsidized social clubs in reality, but in theory could be called out in war or for 'aid to the civil powers' [riots]. The Bombay Light Horse was not mobilized as a unit during either World War, though individual members would certainly have served in the India Army. As Simius Rex points out, this style of mess dress became popular in the 1930s and could in theory have been worn right up to 1947, although among regulars it was considered 'a bit much' to wear full dress or mess dress during hostilities. Can't speak for the Auxilliary. So, it could very well be pre-1919. Are there any marks at all on the inside? Very nice piece, by the way. Peter
    9. Aniki This is not an area I know very much about but I would say that if you can give us the name on the medal and a photograph it is more likely that someone would be able to help you. Peter
    10. Hello, John, and welcome to the GMIC! If you read the posts above, including one by me, you'll see that most of us seem to feel that replacement is o.k., to create something which looks good in display. However, keep the old ribbons safe if you do this, so you can always say 'with original ribbons' if you sell or even catalogue them. A serving soldier would have replced the ribbons on his medals as they got worn or dirty - or risk the wrath of his Sergeant Major - and when I wear WWI uniforms for historical events I wear reproductions that look as the originals did 100 years ago, not as they no look in museum cases or attics: faded, torn and spoiled. However, in the end, it's a personal decision. Again, welcoem, and good luck with your collecting. Peter
    11. I suspect Trooper D is correct about what the looters hoped to find. The idea seems to be that if the bodies are that well preserved there must be other thongs of 'value' there as well. Not too long ago now I saw photos of a 'dig' in France which uncovered a mass grave in which almost a dozen Tommies had been buried, all on their sides as if 'spooning', to fit the bodies into the short trench. Sadly, the night after the excavation was closed up, looters dug it up again, presumably looking for things to sell. As to the attitude of the German war graves people, the explanation may lie in the fact that it is a privately funded organization, with no official support, and therefor, I suspect, l;ikely to be chronically short of money. Peter
    12. Very nice! I'm going to display my ignorance now. Are these military awards, civil awards fro his contributions to music or a mix of the two? Or can you tell? Peter
    13. What a shame! I suppose Durbin was in Nigeria in a training role? Perhaps associated with the setting up of the Staff College in Kaduna?
    14. Nice! I lived in West Africa for two years and always coveted at least one AGSM but not long after got married and invested all my 'spare' cash in silly things like rent and food. And children. That must have been the first campaign, then for a unit formed in 1901. I wonder if some canny Poilitical Officer or army liason type persuaded the Nawab to form this unit soit wouyld be available for African adventures? Paul's point is interesting too. I suspect you may have more luck researching the Somali CC, a much better known unit, I think. With luck, perhaps, references to the BCC in those accounts too? Good luck! Peter
    15. The Baloch Regiment had associations with the State Forces of Bahwalpur, which raised a Camel Transport Corp. Is that what you are referring to? In 1889, a small force from Bahawalpur was accepted as Imperial Service Troops, placing them at the disposal of the British for use in emergencies. However, it was not until the 20th century that these units began training on modern lines. In 1901, Bahawalpur State raised a camel baggage train with an escort of mounted infantry, called the Bahawalpur Imperial Service Mounted Rifles and Camel Transport Corps, which would go on to become the 1st Bahawalpur Sadiq Battalion in 1924. If you Google 'Baloch Regiment' you may find more info.
    16. Thanks, Stuka. Sounds like it's definitely not meant to be sat on by big people. I wonder when a European style chair became a sign of rank in the Congo? Peter
    17. Can you give us a better idea of the size, please?
    18. That is interesting! I wasn't aware that the MC was awarded for 'meritorious' as opposed to gallant service. Any idea howcommon this was?
    19. I can't see any image, Corey. Perhaps try again? Peter
    20. Sly The 35th Scinde Horse was a regular cavalry unit of the Indian Army in 1920. That meant that it had Indian ORs, NCOs and warrant officers - called Viceroy's Commissioned Officers - and British 'King's Commissioned Officers'. The VCOs were long service men, usually risen from the ranks and would serve as second in command to British officers in command of, for example, a troop or squadron. T Indian Cavalry Ranks: Ranks: Sowar [Trooper]; Naik [Corporal] ; Daffadar [Sergeant]. The Kot-Daffadar [Sgt Major] was Indian and the other VCOs were [Jemadar, roughly a lieutenant]; Risaldar [roughly a Captain] and a Risaldar Major, which had no British equivalent. He was the senior Indian in the unit and respponsible, with the Colonel, for the specifically 'Indian' aspects: food, religion, etc. Plus British officers: Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel. The Indian 'VCOs' were treated as officers for pay, salutes, etc, and ofetn took command of troops or squadrons if no British Officer was present but could never give orders to a British Officer, even one 'below' them in rank. In the 1930s several regiments were 'Indianized': Indians were given King's Commissions. However, any Brit could transfer out of those regiments and no Indian officer ever outranked a British one. It's complicated! So, the regiment was made up of three squadrons, each divided into four troops. Squadrons and troops would be commanded by British Captains and Lieutenants respectively, with an Indian Risaldar as 2ic of each squadron and an Indian Jemadar as 2ic of each troop. Each troop was either all Sikhs or all Dogras. Political Officers were civil servants, working for the Political Department in India and whatever government was in charge in Mespot. They had no military command power at all but advised regimental commanders when appropriate. British Officers would not have used their chargers, or other government owned horse for polo, but 'ponies' purchased locally. I suspect if they were in Iraq and playing it would have been on Arab horse purchased in-country. I hiope that helps. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions. Peter
    21. Good call, I think. One washing with no negative effects. I might, if it were mine, try chesterpiglet's idea of using talcum powder. It might pick up dust and old oiul from the fur and probably won't dry out the underlying skin of the pelt unless you leave it in for a lengthy period. it seems to me - trained in theory but little practical experience - that this would fit the musuem standard of not doing anything nonreversable, nor adding anything to the actual artifact. And, of course, you're prepared for the fact that it was 'worn with pride' and will never be 'new Guardsman' standrad. But thanks for sharing your experience! Happy 2021. Peter
    22. Nice finds, Gordon. I wonder what event[s] in Poland in the mid-50s led to the issue of this commemorative in 1956?
    23. I don't collect to Zimbabwe but I know a bit of the history and it's my thought that the 'traditional' form is the right-facing eagle. But I may be wrong about that. Possible explanation for a switch to 'right' from 'left' is that it appears to have been a right on Rhodesian coinage and state emblems.
    24. James These buckles were first introduced as part of the waist belt for the British for the kit worn by there riflemen, starting in the early 1800s. It was, as Dev says, widely adopted and remained popular until the introduction of webbing equipment to replace leather - in 1908 in the UK. In fact, the leather belt with snake buckel, authorized or not - I'm not sure - stayed popular for 'walking out dress' throught WWI and was a sign of an old sweat, not a wartime recruit. I owned one for years - the belt I mean - and both Canadian soldiers and our RCMP wore it too. Here's a brief bit of history: http://www.actionarchaeology.ca/index.php/projects/featured-artifacts/its-all-about-that-belt/ Peter
    25. There are not very many uniforms that early and in decent condition left. In fact a friend of mine, Peter Twist of the firm Historical Twist, makes a large number of very high quality reproducations of Napoleonic era uniforms for collectors and museums in North America and Europe, because originals are simply unobtainable. I take it that the second coat is the Sherwood Yeomanry uniform?
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