peter monahan

The other possibility is that someone visited Israel and Egypt. There was at one point a few years ago, a fad for having one's name 'written' in Egyptian hieroglyphs [each glyp assigned a phonetic value] on a cartouche like this. When I taught Ancient History my students did it for fun but I'm fairly certain I've seen jewellery done the same way, which might account for the first item. The fitting attaching the chain to the cartouche has a very modern look to it as well, so my bet would be that it is simply a piece of jewellery. Any symbol/marking on the reverese of either?

Good call, Antonio!

Very nice indeed!

Yes, modern dictators have a gruesome record of medal design, including but not restricted to Idi 'Dada' Amin's VC. Yes, it di have his fat phiz on the front! Uniforms, at least personal ones, are also a pre-occupation of leaders - see photos of the late unlamented leader of Libya for some awful examples. In an earlier period, Victoria's husband Albert got his lick in and designed a shako with peaks at front and rear, which was universely loathed by the troops, but most European armies had design committees - of senior soldiers - and then departments who created the sealed patterns from which unifroms and badges were actually produced. Orders and medals, however, have always been at least approved of by the head of state in most nations as they represent the official heraldry of the state. In many places I suspect this is one of many jobs they do, more or less automatically, but for those who have/had an interest its a small way to put one's mark on the nation. And who will tell the King/Queen/beloved leader that she or he has no taste at al?

Very nice! Any information on what the medlas are , other than the UN awards, or who they may have belonged to?

Quite a puzzle! Do let us know if any other information turns up. Happy Christmas! Peter

The colours on the central shield are arranged as are those on the flag of EG and the rooster is clearly an emblem of the country, so I'm sure you're correct in your identification. Is there anything on the back of the badge which suggest it's possible use? Loops to pin it to a hat or piece of clothing or bolts which would allow it to be attached to plaque or wall? What size, roughly, is it? Anything under 2 inches [5 cm] might be a badge. Over that size it's more likely to be a decorative plaque of some sort.

If he got the DFC there should be a London Gazette entry, I think - WWII is not my forte. The Gazette is fully searchable, thought the search engine is a bit wonky at times. Records for the Second War are still under some restrictions, I believe - available to kin but not necessarily to everyone - but, again, someone over there will kow better. A raid resulting in the loss of 12 planes should be traceable in squadron and wing records too, I should think - that would have been a major loss for a single mission in the RAF and a good history of the bombing campaign should steer you to the correct units.

Me too! I made all my early re-enacting tunics [Napoleonic period] and a fair bit of period clothing and would be embarrassed to be seen on the field next to someone wearing that, never mind wearing it myself!

Very classy looking thing, ain't it! And rare as well. Nice find, Congo!

Happy Holidays, Gary!

Not imporbable, given the provenance, that an original tunic was modified for a tattoo, theatricals or just display. Frankly, for a tattoo or even re-enactor I'd have expected better workmanship, but I suspect that's what this is.

Excellent sleuthing! BTW, I expect that the explanation for the jodphurs [non-uniform] was the same as the explanation for Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery's famous beret with two badges on it: That's what he chose to wear and there was no one around of sufficient rank to tell him not to!

The cow tail shrunk over the haft of the blade is apparently the traditional method of fixing and no longer done, which argues for some age, as does the accompanying story. Sadly, our pukka Zulu expert, Mervin Mitton, passed away just recently or e'd have chimed in by now. I'm sure, wherevere he is, he has an opinion. That said, the mantra I have always clung to in collecting is 'Buy the thing, not the story.' Presumably Zulus were as taken with the events at Isandalwana and Rourke's drift as were the British, for different reasons, and the temptation to 'embroider' stories and the fallibilty of human memory are universals. Not saying it wasn't used there, but I've seen many many misattributed 'treasures' over the years, sometimes for profit often from sheer error.

I'd assume you've used a magnet to check the iron content, not just going by weight. It is indeed an oddity! And worth keeping as such, I think, besides providing an oppurtunity for some research and/or a display of erudition by the boffins on this site!

I notice that the Governor [?] is also wearing a DSO and what looks like a Croix de Guerre with his Great War trio of medlas, but that won't narrow the ID down very much. The gent to his left has a Victorian campaign medla on - India Medal 1896 at a guess - and the Governor's aide - the one with the fancy aiguelette also wear a WWI trio. Yes, East or West Africa is first choice.

Yes, its been messed with but the garment looks - from the few shots available - as if it could be original.

Couple the French fascination with l'Empereur and high end nineteenth century craftsmanship with the collectors' desire to own pieces of history and you ave the potential for many many costly misattributions. The friend I mentioned, the professional costumer, who supplies museums world wide, not infrequently finds examples of his work advertised for sale as 'original' despite numbers of clues to the contrary for any discerning buyer. People will believe what they want to believe and the unscrupulous or romantic and ignorant sellers are more than happy to feed those dreams!

I wish I read Portugese!

Actually, Mike, the examples I'm thinking of - mostly Crimean and Mutiny groups, are all individual clasps/brooches. In fact, I have a couple: ribbon feed through a buckle which has two loops on the back, so it still has to be stitched to the garment but is easy to add or remove without messing with the ribbon. Then one sees the ribbons [with the medals on] sewn directly to the uniforms - I'm thinking this became common in the 1870s-80s, but that's just an impression, and finally the 'bar', either pinned through the tunic or through loops on the tuic, which we're familiar with today. Medals, as opposed to orders and awards, only became really common for most soldiers and sailors after the issue of the MGS and NGS in the 1840s and the campaign medals of the 1850s on, so attachment was a relatively new puzzle to solve in the period this picture repersents

It all depended who was watching, and, sadly, soemtimes who the person performing the act was. But, as Tony suggests, such acts of 'qiet heroism' probably happened daily and most were never formally acknowledged. One good reason for forums like this one. Thanks for posting this, Rob.

Great groups, indeed, Rob. Thanks very much for sharing them. I was a bit surprised to see the full names and addreses of the men who assisted Greay. I hope he memorized those and didn't write them down! If he's been captured with the names on his person the consequences would have been dire for the guides.

"THE COLLAR: Knight Grand Cross, The Most Illustrious Order of Queen Salote Tupou III: The Collar (note, the King has altered... " It's good to be King!

This illustrates the oft stated problem of 'long distance authentication', which is two fold: no photo is a substitute for having the item in one's hand and, perhaps more importantly, 'calling it' can best be done after one has handled many many like it, real or fake. I still have a strong interest in the badegs of the Imperial [dirty word!] Indian Army but, as I live in North America, almost all I see are 'one off's and in many many cases I would be very reluctant to put out much money, not because i think them fake but because I simply can't tell. That said, of course, it's also very easy for me to offer opininons on forums like this one as it costs me nothing to do so! Pontification over!