Herman

Hello, after 3 1/2 months of silence in this thread I will give it another push. I invite everybody to post his / her pictures of Dutch medals, awards and orders in this thread. I enclose a picture of a medalgroup of a Dutch warhero. He flew as a bomberpilot in the war from the Dutch East-Indies. Evaded to Australia in 1942, flew in Mitchell bombers and commanded the Dutch 18th NEI Squadron in action against the Japanese. He was awarded the Dutch (1944) and British DFC (1945). In 1950 he got the highest Dutch bravery award, the Militaire Willemsorde 4th class for all his actions in WW2. HRH Prince Bernhard awarded the cross personally in june 1951. After the war he left the Airforce and became a businessman. He stayed on reservist status and eventualy got promoted to reserve-Commandeur (1 star General in the Dutch Airforce). He died in1997. His uniform and awards are kept and shown in the Dutch Airforce museum at Soesterberg. His name: Ir. Dirk Lucas Asjes. If you google him, some other interesting things will appear. Flying in an airrace before WW2 is one of them regards Herman

Hello Johnnymac, Thanks for your reply. To put one thing straight right away. I do NOT posses the U.S.M. 37 medal of Col. Barney. I picked this picture and another one, which I shall add to this post, a few years back from the internet. I don't know where, maybe ebay. I don't know why the US Mint gave away these numbered medals. Furthermore Laslo's book is not clear on this subject either. For your question on the suspension of the VM of Col Barney, see the picture below. It is a type 2 as you can see. Best regards Herman

Kevin, thanks for your honest reply. I know the Polish VM's are fantasy pieces. I just bought one as a reference and i tried to make my VM display as 'complete' as possible. FortunateIy I did not pay that much. regards, Herman.

The book on VM's of Alexander J. Laslo (2nd edition) mentiones in the United States section an official type 3. This official type 3 is a numbered serie. The edge is stamped with U.S.M. followed by one or two digits. Laslo thinks they are United State Mint presentation pieces. He describes this version on page 92 of his book. This numbering triggered me and over the years I tried to identify the numbers. It is a very slow process. I hope that the readers and contributors to GMIC can unify their information and that the list may grow. At the moment I identified the following numbers: U.S.M. 5 awarded to Gen John J. Pershing U.S.M. 37 awarded to Colonel James P. Barney U.S.M. 68 (mentioned on page 92 of Laslo's book) U.S.M. 70 (figure 113 on page 86 of the book) U.S.M. 95 awarded to Brigadier General R. Krauthoff Not that impressive yet. So, who knows another one. I add two pictures. A picture of the U.S.M. 37 of Col Barney and a black and white photo of the set of Brigadier General Krauthoff with his VM marked U.S.M. 95 (not shown in the picture). Best regards Herman

and the reverse of my Cuban VM. (A picture i had in my computer). Herman

This Cuba has the Chobillon marking and BRONZE in the rim. I add a picture of the reverse in the next post. Gents, I want to apoligize for the quality of the pictures in the string of photo's of today. I don't have the rights yet to add good quality pictures. Furthermore the pictures of the reverse of the medals were impossible to make without breaking down the presentation frame in which they are grouped. Questions, comments, I eagerly await you experts ........ Best regards Herman

I also have an unofficial Polish VM. It is marked on the obverse with MK at the 7 o’clock position. At hte same position it is marked Vlaitov on the obverse edge. The reverse is marked with a big Polish eagle. It came without a ribbon, so i added a ribbon from a spare VM from another country.

Czechoslowakia An official type 2

My South African Victory medal. It is a type 1 and named.The rim reads: PNR. S.T. COGHLAN S.A.P.B.

my second Victory medal of Great Britain is a single one with a Mentioned in Despatches oakleaf. I also own the MiD certificate. The name on the rim reads: S-307535 A. CPL. S. SANDERS. A.S.C. The oakleaf was attached to the reverse side of the ribbon when it arrived in the mail. I kept it as it is.

then on to Great Britain. I own two British VM's. The first one is part of a trio all named to a Private Stevens of the Wiltshire Regiment. The rim reads: 14493 PTE G.C. STEVENS. WILTS.R. The VM is a type 2.

Japan A type 1 complete with hook and eye at the backside of the ribbon.

My Italian VM's. I have three: An official type 1, marked: Orsolini Mod, Sacchini Milano an official type 2, marked: Orsolini Mod, S. Johnson Milano and an official type 3, marked: Orsolini Mod, F.M. Lorioli Castelli Milano

My Portuguese VM. It has a funny story that goes with it, although when it happened a few years back i was quiet mad. When the medal arrived in the mail, my mailbox then was a post slot in the front door of the house, the dog got hold of it and teared the envelope in pieces. The ribbon of the VM was damaged. After the first wave of shock and anger I decided to keep it as it is. The dog is no more and now it's a nice momento to her. It is an official type 2 with bronze ribbonholder.

The Rumanian VM is own is an identified piece. It belonged to Captain Robert Gardescu. It is an official type 1, complete with hook and eye at the backside.

My French VM's. An official type - Morlon, an unofficial type 1 – Charles / Chobillon with the Chobillon marking and marked BRONZE in the rim. The third one is an unofficial type 2 – Pautot / Mattei, also marked BRONZE.

My only 2 Victory medals from the USA. They are an official type 2 with 3 ribbon bars: St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector.Perhaps the 29th Division. The backside of the ribbon has a brooch. The one on the right is an official type 2 with ribbon bar: France and a Maltese cross. It has a French brass hinge.

Hi guys, I herewith add an picture of my 3 Belgian Victory Medals. The one on the left with the black mother bar and the centre one are an official type 1. The one on the right is an unofficial type 3 - uniface. rgds Herman

Thanks for your replies. Especially Johnnymac. You convinced me. I have a second Cuban VM. When I am at home tonight (it is around 18.00 lt now here in the Netherlands) I shall check this one aswell. If i'm in doubt i shall post some pictures and hopefully Johnnymac can do his evaluation once more. Again guys, thanks for the replies. I hope to post some more examples from my VM collection in the near future. F.i my Belgian VM with a mothers bar, or a Belgian/French VM with a clean unmarked reverse. cu Herman

and the rim.

the reverse

First of all: Hello to everybody contributing to this wonderfull string of posts. I read them all. I collect WWI VM's for around 5 years now, bought the book of Laslo (2nd ed.) and thought I knew a lot. Till i start reading this string ......... the knowledge of some contributors, the photo's, the details. I stand in awe. At the moment i posses most VM's in original. Only Brasil and Siam are missing. I use a modern good looking repro as gapfiller. (sorry). I also have all official Army and Navy bars to the US VM. I enclose a picture of my Cuban VM. I bought this one 2 years ago thru e-bay and paid not that much. When it came to me in the mail and i checked it, it looked good, had the marks in the rim etc. What do the experts think of it. regards Herman

and the reverse regards Herman

Details of the obverse.

Here is a Militaire Willems Orde 4th class of around 1900 - 1940.