azyeoman

Somehow I don't think that was Kipling meant when he wrote:

I like it!

This is a great thread. I've thought for years that SA WWI and WWII medals are very under-appreciated, but that's good for collectors as they seem to be much less expensive than those from the rest of the Commonwealth.

Naafi Woodbines

Congratulations Owain; very nice bar.

Hi Chris, It's most definitely inedible. There was an article I read about someone who tasted the chocolate from one of these boxes about ten years ago and became really very ill. The sugar may be good, but there are other things that apparently go off. It smells like chocolate, but it's not the same smell as those fantastic, wonderful Cadbury's milk chocolate bars that we all enjoy. I found it interesting that the square box contained Bournville chocolate (dark chocolate). : )

The Gloster's titles are a real matching pair and the 22e titles are a matching pair with embroidery on felt.

Thanks, I'm glad you like it.

I'm still looking for an original WWII Japanese PoW Welcome Home Letter as shown. : )

Interesting and I agree, but remember that the rosette on the '14 Star indicated the entitlement to the bar and so many just had the plain ribbon which was indistinguishable from the '14-15 Star.

I believe these were worn in uniform so it wouldn't surprise me if enamel ribbon bars would have been worn too. Were their specific rules and regulations that forbade the wearing of anything other than fabric ribbon bars? There was the option of wearing sewn on ribbons or pinned on ribbon bars too.

Overseas Service Stripes were awarded in 1918 and could be worn in combination with Good Conduct Stripes, and were not limited to junior ranks. One Blue Chevron was worn for each years service overseas, with a Red Chevron indicating that the soldier went overseas before 31st December 1914. Four Blue Chevrons and One Red Chevron was the maximum awarded.

Princess Alexandra Christmas 1914 gift tin

Princess Mary tin with pencil

Thank you MIke!!! This is great info and thanks for the links. I'm sure the readers will enjoy being able to learn so much. Lucky you to have found three tins with contents. I feel happy to have one for the Boer War and one for the Great War. I've never seen one to the Indian troops but understand from Williamson that they had spices etc. in them. I've seen some Princess Mary tins with just the pencil that was secured in the tin via a piece of thin cardboard with two slanted slots in it. I understand that it was distributed to those who were wounded in the UK. Cheers and happy hunting for more tins.

This is the one I have, which is a bit different than the first one shown. I like them and just haven't seen anymore myself. I wonder if the Victorian medal ribbons were made as well. I've seen US enamel ribbons and of course German and Italian, but no contemporary 19th and 20th century British ones. There are modern ones, which look very modern and the enamel work is less than pleasing I respectfully say in my humble opinion.

Very scarce letter from King George V to returning PoWs and sent to Hudson.

Repatriation information

More paperwork; although there, he was not issued a bar for the 1914 Star

Reverse

Obverse

MIC 1914 Star & MIC for BWM and Victory

A WWI PoW group in the collection, which is confirmed on the MIC and is important when collecting PoW medals for WWI.

8576 Pte. H. Hudson 2nd Royal Scots

This is a very nice enamel ribbon bar. Were many of these made for various ribbons? Were trios made as well?

Horlicks anyone?

Tobacco tin

yet another angle

another angle