peter monahan

Very nice, James. I recall the excitement a number of years ago now - probably not long after the movie came out - when a US dealer [?] offered a set to the Bushveld Carbineers for sale. No idea how common those were, but I suspect not very and I believe I recall chatter at the time to the effect that some members of the unit had their medals named or re-named to other units after the trial and executions. Thansk for sharing those. Any information on Trooper Condon's service with the unit?

The penny is probably the one presented to the candidate for induction into the Masons as his 'wages' for quarry work and 'Hiram, Tyrian, Widow's Son...' was apparently carved into one of the stones of Solomon's Temple, the premier symbol of the Masonic order. Here is a site which outlines the ceremony used in initiating candidates: http://www.darkfiber.com/tomb/htwsstks.html Peter

"I don't believe for one minute that the Royal Mint had a new staff memeber who didn't know the criteria, there is certainly something fishy going on there!! I would suggest that the Royal Mint simply produce the medals they have been requested to produce and have no say or question any of these medals." I completely agree. This sounds to me like the RM's version of 'P*** off, sir.' and 'We don't much care whether you believe us.' I also agree that it does, to some extent, detract from the awards to those who genuinely have the years in. That said, taking them back is likely productive of more heat and fuss than its worth, unless it becomes clear that there are many many cases like this. As to who cares, one could I suppose call the press. It would almost certainly get on someone's radar and a published story would certainly produce much heat, if not much light, on the topic. I suppose writing the Chief Constables wouldn't help but a letter might have them taking a little more care in future.

OFF TOPIC When I lived in Toronto in the 1980sour 'quarters' [25 cent pieces] had the same weight and obverse as a large number of coins from the various West Indian commonwealth members. Not surprising, as most were mad by the Canada Coin Company in Ottawa. However, they regularly turned up in change in the school cafeteria after some of my students had gone on hols. Most were worth 6-8-10 cents Cdn but I used to collect them from the staff.

And with that name he is almost certainly a Pathan from the NorthWest Frontier area. The same fellows who gave the British [and Russians, and Alexander's Macedonians] so much trouble for 150 years! Nice medal.

"Some fine images, peter, particularly of 'The Duke' on his rearing horse. I was curious. Who are those fine fellows (third from top) in bearskin caps with blue and white feathers, red coats and white pantaloons, attacking the British square?" I believe they are Dutch infantry, but not with my brigade so I'm not sure exactly which regiment. Peter

That is simply gorgeous! Thank you very much indeed for sharing the object and you talent. Peter

I would be very very leary of wetting [and shampooing] an old bearskin. You might well wind up with handfuls of loose fur and a leather bonnet instead. One idea, with is non-intrusive, to try and eliminate the odour is to enclose the piece in air tight plastic - a garment bag from your local dry cleaner - with an open container of coffee grounds, perhaps 1/4 pound. Let it sit for a couple days, stirring the grounds every day and see if that helps. Conservation, for musuems, has a key principle: NEVER do anything you cannot undo, which generally includes adding solutions to anything permeable - no oils, polishes, paints, chemicals etc. Musuems, of course, are in it for the long haul and you may want something to spruce up the bearskin for a few years but, caution should be your watchword. Here is a site of on-line resources for museum professionals. perhaps googling 'fur' and 'skins' will produce a solution for you. http://cool.conservation-us.org/search.html Hope this is some help. Peter

The joke while we were there was that all 6 of the Greys troopers hoped to be 'Sergeant / Ensign Ewart' by the end of the event. Not sure which, if any of them, was chosen. I saw some photos on another site of the 'French eagle' being landed in England and transported through London in a carriage, but it looked as if the escort were all gilded staff wallahs. I suspect Sgt Ewart got a hearty handshake, extra grog, and a 'Well done, that man!' before going back to the troop lines to groom his horse and polish his tack! The commission came along later.

Not sure I undersatnd the question. Sorry!

I probably should have known that! [insert mildly embarassed emoticon here] Thanks, Mike.

Yes, well a dollar was worth a dollar back then. And on a tangentially related note, I have just come across a WWI lad who got stoppage of field allowance and a fine of 25 cents per diem for the 78 days he spent in a hospital in France with VD, in 1917. But, as a military doctor friend of mine pointed out, nobody shot at him for 78 days either and, she says, it is alleged that one actually paid more in some brothels for the girls with VD! Intriguing notion!

Mickey - what was the significance of the pick, please? Without your comment I would have guessed it to be an engineering or labour units. Thanks.

Excellent! Thansk for sharing this, Mike. I'll steal it to share with my unit.

Actually, Stars are like cats - the number you need is the number you currently own + 1! I'm sure there's a regulation about it somewhere. Thanks for the info. on the date as well!

I hope that helps, Ray, as it sounds like your only hope, short of trawling the bazaars and tailors' shops in Bahawalpur. The joys of collecting truly rare things, eh?

I have in the last several years become a member of a group which re-enacts a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, part of the 3rd Cdn Field Hospital, 1914-18, and am developing an interest in the CAMC and RAMC. I know we had one unit in the 2nd Boer War - the senior Matron of the CAMC was a veteran of that conflict - so I would be interested in any informatioin on medical service in SA too.

Mike I know this very thing was discussed recently on one forum or other and am racking my brains to remember where. In the meantime, perhaps the Secretary of the Victoria Cross Society can recommend someone. http://www.victoriacrosssociety.com/ Peter

The peacock head is an interesting note. I hadn't gotten any further than 'blurry casting', as I've mislaid my magnifying glass! Agreed that it's pretty clearly not an official unit badge.

My 'favourite' is the current Canadian media practice of converting comments about length from Imperial to metric. If he said it was 'About 10 yards away', which is usually a layman's estimate and probably off by a factor of 50% anyway, what possible purpose is served by removing the quotation marks and informing the reader that it was 'about 8.4 metres' away? Serioulsy?

The Lone Star State. Makes perfect sense!

Sent you a PM.

I can't agree that this is Assyrian Levies, as their badge has kindjal style knives/swords, not the closed hilt that these are. The sword style is fairly Indian - a somewhat exaggerated tulwar style IMO. I'd guess it was a tourist piece made up, with hundreds of others, for sale to the servicemen stationed in or passing through India. Interesting that the maker chose to add the RAF badge. It may be that there were local employees or even a security unit attached to an Indian RAF base, though I'd expect something a little more restarined for even a semi-official badge. Or, it may simply ave been that there were a large number of RAF types shopping in the bazaar where this was made. An interesting puzzle!

I agree with Mervyn that they are perhaps a bit flashy for British issue, which were generally steel, not brass. And, the grenade is a fairly universal symbol - French and Italians used it as well as British and certainly other countries as well. very nice looking items, however. Welcome to the Forum too! [also] Peter