azyeoman

Here's the only one I have to a man whose name was Wang Te Lin and served in the Chinese Labour Corps (CLC). There is no blemish on the obverse between the V and the B either. The suspension rod is a separate piece too. What is interesting to me is that the initials on both the obverse and the reverse seem to be clearer and more prominent than on the bronze BWMs with the round three. Sorry the photo is upside down, but nevertheless, you can easily see the flat or straight three.

Hi Peter, I cannot give the exact explanation for medals with the "wrong" naming, but I know that there are many examples of medals that have been tampered with from the famous such as the Crimea Medals to faked medals that are ubiquitous such as some of the WWII stars. I'm NOT an expert. I will tell you though that I'm not going to feel comfortable having a medal in my collection that may be a fake or tampered with and so until proven otherwise, I'm happy to go along with what the books and respected dealers say. I've not got any experience in collecting medals from the Calcutta mint and perhaps the Bronze BWMs were minted in Calcutta; I don't know, but again, I will defer to the books and dealers I trust and respect. Williamson's book is excellent and I believe he's done his homework. Does that mean there aren't errors in it? No, but one thing I did note is that in the case of all the threes as shown in the numerous numbering styles used for WWI medals, none of them was anything but a straight-top three. As far as the obverse of the medals with the rounded threes, they also seem to have a small bump between the "V" and the "B" on the obverse. The medals with the straight-top threes do not have that "blemish". Lastly, there are copies/fakes of the bronze BWM out there that have an integral suspension rather than one with a separate rod for the ribbon and there are others that don't have the artist's initials on the obverse or reverse. I'm sure there were recipients who may have worn those, and that's fine with the correct provenance, but for me, I want to be able to look at my collection and have no doubts about the authenticity of the item in my hand and so again, I defer to the experts. : ) All the best, John

Make sure that if you buy one to a man who was in the CLC that there is no small bump between the "V" and the "B" on the obverse and if there is a number three in the service number that it has a straight top and not a round or curved one such as this "3". Williamson's book shows the alphabets and the numbers for all the WWI Medals and there were no rounded threes as are seen on some of the bronze BWM to the CLC.

It's the best I've ever seen too. Wow... :love:

Wonderful badge. Thanks for sharing this. Needless to say, it's the first time I've ever seen one.

Beautiful collection and how nice that they're on display. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your future acquisitions!

Here's a eight medal bar with a nice label.

And the reverse of it. I wish I could afford these, but they are expensive; supply and demand. ; )

Here's another mounted pair - obverse.

Such a nice little pair and so well constructed. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Rob, I do too. Cheers, John

Has the nominal roll for the Chinese Labour Corps surfaced again? I'm interested in finding out who No. 37324 was and would be most grateful to anyone who can help or steer me where to do the research. Cheers, John

Very nice. Congratulations and thank you for posting. I like that it has a tailor's label.

I've seen a copy and believe me, it is well worth the $150 plus shipping. References are worth their weight in gold when you collect, and when this one goes out of print, you can expect to see the price soar. (pun intended) ; )

Another example of a beautiful Schiele of Wilhelmshaven made parade mounted bar.

Joh. Setz Landau/Westmark Aluminum rectangle Silver lettering on black within silver frame attached by two prongs on the left and right side of the label

A variation on a J. Reimann. Often the aluminum plate has black lettering on silver, but in this case it's silver on a black background.

A variation of a typical Acker. Chocolate brown on beige on a field grey backing cloth rather than the usual beige backing and again in the traditional lower left corner.

Another aluminum one. Hans Hillmann Erfurt 3. PaulStr. 3. Black on an aluminum rectangle with rounded corners attached by two prongs; one on either side.

A beautiful Guelphic Medal and Waterloo pair to a man in the King's German Legion. A very good Guelphic Medal pair awarded to Corporal William Decke, 1st Hussars, King’s German Legion, for bravery at Coimbra where he and two comrades had been cut off following a French charge - they then distinguished themselves by boldly cutting through the French lines to safety, all three wounded while doing so. GUELPHIC MEDAL FOR BRAVERY 1815 (Wilhelm Decke) fitted with contemporary replacement silver suspension in the form of an entwined serpent; WATERLOO 1815 (Corp. William Decke, 1st Reg. Hussars K.G.L.) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension Very Fine Awarded the Guelphic Medal in the 1819 List: “On the 1st of October 1810, the squadron to which Decke belonged, was on picquet near Coimbra, and was attacked many times by the French, at a defile, which the squadron had to pass, and in order to clear which, the hussars were obliged frequently to charge superior numbers of the enemyʼs cavalry. Decke distinguished himself on this occasion by great bravery and presence of mind. In one charge he and three other hussars were entirely cut off. He did not therefore give himself up for lost, but, together with two of his comrades, boldly cut his way through; one of the hussars was killed, and Decke and the two others were both wounded” (Ref Beamish p506). Also entitled to the M.G.S. medal, 5 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes DʼOnor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca.

Here's a nice Guelphic Medal pair. Newly mounted but exceptional nonetheless. A Guelphic Medal pair awarded to Corporal Charles Heine, 1st Troop, King’s German Artillery, for gallantry at Waterloo. GUELPHIC MEDAL FOR BRAVERY 1815 (Carl. [Hei]ne, Oberfeuerwerker, 1...atterie); HANNOVERIAN MEDAL FOR VOLUNTEERS OF THE K.G.L. 1814. Condition: the first with contact marks hence Good Fine Corporal Charles Heine, 1 Troop, Kingʼs German Artillery, was awarded the Guelphic Medal in the 1820 List: ʻAt Waterloo, before coming into action, this Battery remained for a long time in the second line, and thereby suffered many losses through enemy artillery fire. When at last they advanced up to the first line, from which some batteries were going back through lack of ammunition, they came under a murderous fire from artillery and sharpshooters, but on their side they contributed substantially, so that the last powerful attack by the French was thrown back. Bombardiers Heine and Niemeyer were very soon the only gun detachment commanders remaining fit for action; they attended to the proper laying of several guns with commendable zeal, hurrying from one gun to another. Likewise the personnel of the Battery were concentrated; on Niemeyerʼs gun five gunners were dead or wounded. At a critical moment, when enemy columns nearby threatened a fresh attack, lack of ammunition, especially of case-shot, became a worry. Heine with two gunners quickly went to search a number of abandoned and shot-up limbers and wagons under heavy fire. Fortunately his voluntary search was attended by great success; he found the required ammunition, brought it up and it was used against an immediately following attack by the French Guards.ʼ (Ref Von Wissel p146) Charles Heine enlisted on 18 February 1809 and served in Northern Germany 1813-14. He was promoted Corporal shortly after the battle of Waterloo, on 1 August 1815. On the disbandment of the Legion he transferred to the 1st Troop, Hannoverian Horse Artillery and was pensioned on 31 July 1827. He was still living in 1856 but did not claim a Military General Service Medal.

Here's a rare one. The first and only one I've ever seen. Paul Hadrobolec Gravier-Anstalt Hannover, Heilgerstr. 17 within a black frame Aluminum with oval ends and rivited on each end. The rivits have a grid design from the punch.

Love the Godet label and on an Austrian bar; how nice!!! Congratulations!

Here's a well worn silk label. Please feel free to identify this if you know what it reads.

Congratulations Tom; a beautiful addition to your collection and how fantastic to get all the information and paperwork too. What a great find! :love: