Aberdeen Medals

Here's the second TWM for reference / identification This one has a makers mark on the reverse centre, and a silver mark (?) number below '925'. The reverse plate is of 9 x rivet construction - the 9th rivet being placed immediately under the base of the retention clasp for the vertical pin. Can anyone positively ID the manufacturer of this one? As information. Mark

Considering the growth of interest in the Turkish War Medal see below - and in the following post - a couple of European manufactured (?) items that may be of interest to collectors in their ongoing research into the different variants of these variant medals. I believe that both the examples shown are either German or Austrian manufactured items, and may be of interest view the quality, markings and construction styles of these medals The first TWM illustrated has no makers mark on the reverse. It does however have the number '950' stamped on the lower base immediately above the retention clasp for the vertical pin. Curiously the obverse 'Iron Crescent' is not applied to the plate but appears to a fixed part of the plate / planchet, as I can see no rim or seal around the rim of the crescent. As such the rivets on the back plate are only there to secure the central applied obverse devices. I woudl be interested to know if anyone can positively ID the maker. As information. Mark

Both of your illustrated Atlantic Stars are genuine Royal Mint issues neither is a fake or copy! The one with the larger ring can be dated as being 'from' the 1980's, as it was in that decade that 'late claims' of WW2 campaign stars were being issued with the distinctive larger rings. Your second Atlantic Star without ribbon is the 'standard' type (with smaller ring) that was issued in the 1940's, and continued to be issued through to the 1980's. As information.

Ulsterman, I have tried to post a high resolution image - but have failed. The attached reduced size image is all I can do. Attached is a composite group of WW2 medals that includes examples of 'continental' type private purchase medals - see attached illustration. The group comprises; 1. Poland: Virtutie Militaire - this is an un-numbered post war commercial replacement 2. Poland: Cross of Valour - this is a 'Spink' made issue (Spink were contracted by the Polish government in exile to supply awards) 3. 1939-45 Star and clasp - a continental copy 4. Air Crew Europe Star - copy 5. Defence Medal - original 6. War Medal - original The above group was the subject of an OMRS Journal article several years ago Regarding Ethiopian medals, I have handled quite a few - but not including groups that contained Second World War stars (though the latter undoubtedly exist. If you have such a group I would be interested to see an image, and or learn details of same. Mark

Mike, If not already accessed, you can view online at the Ancestry website the service papers for George Samson - they are however in the damaged series, so some information is missing and or damaged / ilegible - however still worth getting a copy of. In summation George, a native Scotsman form Ayrshire, he attested for the British Army - and service with the Cameron Highlanders on 4 May 1897. At the time of his enlistement he claimed to be 20 years of age and was by 'Trade' a Butcher Important: On the Camerons Sudan Medal roll there is only one private soldier with the surname SAMPSON or it's variants. However his correct surname SAMSON is recorded on his extant (damaged) service papers As information. Mark

Bjorn, Your illustration of the group of stars is not of sufficiently high enough resolution to assess the authenticity of each of the medals however from what I can see the below following should be noted; 1. Top row the Star without riband is a later post 1980's official replacment - note the larger suspension ring 2. The Africa Star on end of top row is a copy 3. As others have suggested, I would here affirm that the Air Crew Europe Star is a copy 4. As others have suggested, I would also here affirm that the France and Germany Star thrid from left in bottom row is a copy Interestingly, a couple of the above copy stars appear to of the distinctive 'Continental' manufactured Stars that medalists and military tailors in the North Continent countries of Belgium, Netherlands, France, retailed in the post-war years to local veterans who had served in the British forces - At any rate I have encountered those types of medals most commonly in Europe and quite often mounted with other contemporary private purchase continental medals As information. Mark

Mervyn, A nice grouping of medals, and especially nice to see the mix of Biritsh Imperial campaign medals together with the later South African campaign trio for the Great War. However, would here point out that the medal group cannot be to a Cameronian, or the Cameronians, as that 'Rifles Rehiment' regiment never served in the reconquest of the Sudan. Presumably the medals you ahve there are those of 2864 Private Harry Dodds 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (prior to 1881 the 79th Highlanders), whereas the Cameronians who were the 26th Foot prior to 1881 became the 1st Battalion Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) in 1881. Confusing perhaps to the layman because of the simialrities - but a source of sure friction to amongst members and followers of the respective different regiments if they were mislabelled .................. If not already sourced, I can advise that the service papers of Harry Dodds are extant at The National Archives, and can be accessed on-line at the findmypast genealogical website. Dodds was not a Scot - he hailed form Yorkshire and served a totals of 12 year between January 1892-1904 - having joined on a short service engagement of 7 years with the colours and 5 years on the Army Reserve - and hence well short of qualifying time for a military long service and good conduct medal His surname is unique on the medal roll of the Cameron Highlanders for the Reconquest of the Sudan campaign. As information. Yours aye, Mark

Sorry to dampen your party, but the Air Crew Europe Star illustarted in your opening thread / illustration while having the general appearance of being original - IS NOT however an original 'first issue' medal. Note that the suspension rings on each of the stars is much larger - of wider dimesions - than the original 'first issues' FYI: Campaign Stars with the larger suspension rings began to be issued in the 1980's as issues to late claimants, and or, as unmarked replacements at that time. 'Late issue' stars are not valued as much as originals, and are notoriously hard to sell-on unless of course someone is looking specifically to acquire a 'late issue' As information. Mark

Further to my earlier post, I have had a look again at the Egypt Medal Roll WO 100/61, and have now found a possible identified candidate for your Franciscan The page immediately preceding the one that contains the details of the five Franciscan Nuns, has two names entered (one of which has subsequently been scored out) as being entitled to the Egypt Medal 1882 with no clasp. The names are shown as; - Reverand Father Emmanuel Rennery (Sic) O.S.F. - Reverand Father Patrick Duggan O.S.F. The first name is scored out, and the surname could as likely be Remmery or such like - he appears not to have been issued a medal as only the second name which is un-marked has a note stating medal issued 3 October 1883 - the same medal isue date as the five nuns! Presumbaly O.S.F. is an abbreviation for the Order of Saint Francis ? As information. Yours aye, Mark

What a splendid and interesting picture Do you have any further information - even a forename - to help narrow the search parameters here for a possible identifcation? I ask, as you mention the photograph is circa 1885 - is this because the picture is dated? Five Franciscan nuns qualified for and were awarded the Egypt Medal with dated reverse 1882 (reference the medal roll WO 100/61) however on checking the medal roll all five names appear to be female. As Mike has suggested it is also possible that the chap wearing the medals may well have earned in them in another capacity before taking holy orders, albeit if you do have a date for the picture then it's quite likely the medals are for service in the period 1884-1885! A great number of 'local' residents (Arab, Greek, Coptic, Jewish, as well as expatriate Europeans) were employed in both the 1882 and especially later 1884-85 campaigns as 'Interepreters' and these would have been drawn from amongst all professions and perhaps including some of those in Holy Orders who were fluent in the local languages and dialects. Yours aye, Mark

Hi Noor, If you are still looking to have your single British War Medal repaired, then I would recommend that you contact Peter at G-A Medal Services. You can get Peter's contact details at; http://www.gamedals....k/index.php?p=6 Best to send him the disc and let him source and fit an original BWM suspender for you, rather than you attempt doing the job yourself or farming it out to a general silversmith. As information. Yours aye, Mark

Hello Mervyn, Thanks for the welcome. I am trying below again to attach an image for your reference, hopefully it will come out this time. FYI: I am a long time medal collector, who also trades as 'Aberdeen Medals' Yours aye, Mark

I can't shed any information on Arthur Ernest Charman, but would add an illustration for refernece purposes of the type of collar badges worn by the Hong Kong Police in the same era before the Second World War. The below set of collars uniquely belonged to Sub-Inspector L.N. Karpovitch, M.B.E., a former member of the Russian Contingent, Hong Kong Police. On joining the HKP Karpovitch was allocated the unique service number E35 - E denoted the ethnic group 'Russian' - and that service number was subsequently used and worn as collar badges. The badges were made of white metal, with 2 x copper lugs to the reverse. Each pair of collars were of course unique to each respective member of the Hong Kong Police. As information.