peter monahan

Now, how to KEEP your brass shiny? [A few of us still wear it from time to time.] I've heard WD-40, which sounds ok, and hair spray, which doesn't, as it would be hellish to get off again if it didn't work! Suggestions?

Sorry I missed this earlier. I believe the Ethiopian Korea Medal is one of the Holy Grails of collecting for those interested in that conflict, as there were not huge numbers issued [3,500 ] and few seem to have made it out of Ethiopia. Ulsterman, what di the OMSA fellows object to in your post? Enquiring minds wish to know.

A bit late, but, maybe MJ's breast crest was there because he thought the "E R" meant "Extremely Rich" or "Extremely Rude" or "... ??" [i'm sure Chris B can come p with some suitably unprintable suggestions!

Kevin You should be rightfully proud of having helped get this group the recognition it surely deserves. I hope it does end up in an Australian museum. Does your government have laws to stop it going out of the country? I hope so! Congats. on the centennial of the RAN too!

An Irish-Canadian tenor, has a song, "The Wall" about visiting the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC and the chorus always catches at my throat: "And every name's a father or a husband or a son, Or a daughter or a brother or a cousin to someone. Or a name might be a classmate or a friend you might recall. There's nearly sixty thousand names a-waiting at the wall." You can hear the song here:

Paul It wouldn't make sense for a dealer to do it, but its not that are to find medal groups which have been 'improved' or even made up by the putative owner. Not just a modern phenomenon! There was a group circulating in Toronto years ago with an Egypt Medal, QSA [and maybe KSA] and WWI trio. Maybe even an IGS too. Anway, it was around for a good long time before anyone actually did the math and figured out that the man would have been 12years old at Suakin and Khartoum! Likewise, someone passed himself off as an Italian pilot at the Military Institute, a private club in Toronto, for some time identified one of his before a knowledgeable member identified one of his 'red and green' ribbons as the Second Afghan War Medal! Wearing the Relief of Ladysmith and Relief of Pekin would likely have been good for a few free pints, especially in Oz, where the chances of getting caught out by another vet would be rather lower! A possible explanation? Peter

A Canadian VC winner, Smokey Smith, once paraded wearing only the VC on his tunic and when questioned about it responded that "When you've got this f***er, they know you got all the rest!" Perhaps the Grand Marshall doesn't feel the need to advertise his eminence in his choice of wands!

What a lovely piece. And when war, at least for the upper ranks, still permitted of some elegance, with silver mounted toiletries. Not many of those who served at Delville Wood would have enjoyed such luxury!

I agree with Andrew. It's definitely not an issue item, being a primitive copy of an early nineteenth century box [1790-1830 ish]. I hadn't caught the size thing, but is definitely home made and Andrew's explanation makes sense - a toy or prop. Peter

What a shame! I wonder who he was.

Actually, if you're referring to the dirty bits, after 30 years teaching teenagers I'm hard to shock. If you mean the quality of the translation, who am I to throw stones! My Flemish vocabulary is smaller than my Cantonese list - I know 2 Cantonese words and phrases, 1 of them polite!

Wow! A well deserved honour!

Jock Sadly, your comments can be applied to Canada too, with not too much changed, and would be spot on. They deserve better than what the paperclip counters in Ottawa [or London] give them, and that's God's truth! Peter

Stuka Flemish language let's me out. One of the things I mean to do, right after I finish mastering Basque, is to brush up on my Flemish. Thank for the info. anyway. Peter

Nor me.

Ver' nice.

Well, the entries are in and the judges thank you all for giving them some real meat to chew on. Pretty close to 200 entries all together - pretty impressive total. We will work away individually then consult on the results and publicize the final results as quickly as our various schedules in real life permit. I thank you in advance for your patience! Peter Monahan, Judge

Very classy!

I'm not sure when the RAF switched to unit cap badges or shoulder badges from the universal RAF pattern, but would have thought it was well after WWII, Nelson. The various squadrons and stations had unit crests, but those were not displayed on aircraft or uniforms during the Second War, so I'm not sure when that would have changed - perhaps with the introduction of 'coveralls' as work dress, perhaps in the 1960s? So, as Mervyn suggests, post your request on 'Wanted' in the Sales section. Also try eBay. Here's a site with 3 crests: http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/raf-plaque. And try these people: http://www.crestinsignia.co.uk Remember to specify unit CREST, not badge, and then say you want it in lapel pin/pocket badge size and format. Good luck Peter

Ted You're lucky too - to get the stories! Many vets are/were quite reluctant to open up about their experiences, for various reasons ranging from reviving the trauma to modesty, and now of course many of those tales are gone for good. Write yours down for your kids and grandkids some day. Our share them here on the GMIC! Peter

There were three strikings of the QSA: 1ST TYPE, with dates 1899-1900, is quite rare. A few, for example, were awarded to the first contingent of Lord Strathcona's Horse, a Canadian unit, and command big dollars over here. The unit also adopted the springbok, a SA antelope, which it still wears on its badges, during the Boer War 2ND TYPE: after it became clear that the war would not end by 1900, the dates were ground off the medal dies, but still show up on the second type, especially when the medals tarnish. Dealers advertise the ghost dates as if they were something rare, which they're not really. 3RD TYPE: new dies made without dates. So, Jock has a second striking. Good eye, Nelson! Peter

I would very much like to see that information. Do you have a link to the web site, Stuka? Peter

Brett Your impressions math my own but, as you say, a well ordered POW would probably have been ok.

Well said, Lawrence.

Probably a veterans badge or meant to be worn in mufti, not on a uniform would be my guess, as your correct that lapel bagdes were not worn in uniform and would have been all the same if they were.