Owen

Very many thanks, I look forward to reading his book. Owen

Exceptional - many thanks for sharing it and wonderful to see that it has remained in the family. Owen

Yes, you are quite right...the ribbon is certainly new - that isn't really the point..... The eagle looks to be old (from the back etc) and it has certainly been added to the ribbon, but my question is - has anyone has seen one one on a ribbon before (or anywhere else for that matter)? Many thanks...

Just wanted to share this recently bought medal....a Ste Helene medal with an Eagle ...eagle looks to be old, but haven't seen one on a ribbon before - maybe someone else has? Regards, Owen

Fair point..and with a woman 16 years his junior...perhaps being knackered was nothing to do with his army service! :blush:

I posted this elsewhere on the forum, but it was a little buried. Am re-posting here (with some more details of research to date) because I would be interested to see Waterloo Medals held by other members. The following Waterloo Medal is in my own collection: Medal is correctly named to (Private) George Cooling of the Royal Waggon Train. I have researched Cooling at Kew and found detail as follows: Born: 1786 or 1787 at Bearton, Buckinghamshire Army Service: Regimental No: 14 Rank: Private Name: George Cooling Active Service: · 4 ½ Years in the Peninsula (detail not yet known) · 9 Months in Flanders & France Awards: Waterloo Medal: In the Waterloo Medal Roll, George Cooling is listed under Royal Waggon Train (Entry No 111) as a Private Outline Military Biography: 1809: Attested for the Royal Wagon Train at Croydon, Surrey on 01 Feb 1809 (aged 23) 1814: Discharged on 18 Sep 1814 1815: Re-enlisted 30 April 1815. 1828: Imprisoned from 13 – 24 May 1828 (12 days) by sentence of Garrison Court Martial (offence not recorded). Re-joined the RWT on 25 May 1828. 1832: Medical discharge to pension 31 May 1832, aged 46¼ (served 24 yrs & 250 days). Board convened: Hythe, Kent on 22 May 1832. Board: Brevet Major Basil Jackson (Cooling's Commanding Officer) Lt O'Neill (on the Waterloo Medal Roll as Henry O'Neill – was a Lt back in 1815) Lt Macdowall (on the Waterloo Medal Roll as Joseph McDowall – was a Lt back in 1815) Conduct & Character: Very Good. Description: Height: 5 feet and 4½ inches Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Hazle Complexion: Pale Civilian Trade: Labourer Reason for Discharge: "Found to be worn out and unfit for service at the half yearly Inspection by ... on 12 May 1832. Ordered to be sent to the Invalid Depot at Chatham agreeably to a letter from the Adjutant General of 15 may 1832 – There is no Medical Officer on the Establishment, but the Officers of the Regimental Board know that this old soldier hav (sic) been afflicted with frequent attacks of Rheumatism and is quite worn out from weakness and debility." Personal Note: Research to date presents a quite sad (but I'm sure quite typical) case of an old Waterloo veteran soldier (who remained a Private for his 24 years of service) being medically discharged for being 'too knackered' to go on'. However, I get a strong sense that there was a lot of compassion in how he was handled, by both the army and his Regt (Royal Waggon Train). The board that approved his discharge, certainly would have had a lot of empathy with him: it consisted of his CO (a Brevet Major of advanced years (he died in 1849, aged 92 years – so would have been 75 at the time Cooling was discharged 17 years earlier!) who had been a Captain in the RWT at Waterloo) and 2 x Lt's (each of whom had also been Lt's at Waterloo). So, Cooling and the Board were all Waterloo Veterans of advanced years who had not been promoted (Major Jackson had a Brevet Majority only). Historical footnote: Cooling's Officer Commanding at time of his discharge (1832) was Major Basil Jackson – Major Jackson's son (Lt Basil Jackson) was on Wellington's Staff at Waterloo and went with Napoleon to Exile. Family: Not known when Cooling married, but after discharge he and his wife settled in Orlestone, Kent. He appears in the 1841 England Census (aged 54) living in the Parish of Orlestone (Hundred of Romney Marsh Liberty, County of Kent, Registration District of East Ashford, Sub-registration District of Aldington). Also listed with him are: 1. Eleanor Aged 38 (Spouse?) 2. Sarah Aged 14 3. Harriott Aged 12 4. John Aged 10 5. Ellen Aged 6 6. Jane Aged 3 7. NK Aged 6 days

Many thanks, although it seems such a long time ago now! Quiet here at the moment and fingers crossed it stays that way...I am getting too old for trouble!

Referring to the first post on this subject, I was awarded a Joint Commanders Commendation for service in Bosnia in 1997. It is indeed a certificate and does not entitle you to wear anything on your medal ribbon. The award is published in the operational honours list, but is not Gazetted. In terms of ranking, the military regard it as sitting immediately below a QCVS. I don't have a copy of my certificate as it is framed and at home in UK...I am serving in Kosovo at the moment), but I happen to have a soft copy of one of the congratulating letters, which gives the award some perspective (I have removed my name and address for obvious reasons): When I get a chance I will post a picture of the certificate

Hello Darrell, Thank you for providing the link to the British Medals database - a very interesting and useful resource which I had not seen before. I have a Waterloo Medal in my private collection (not shown on the database) and have sent pictures and detail of the medal to Kevin: Medal is correctly named to (Private) George Cooling of the Royal Waggon Train. I have researched Cooling at Kew and found detail as follows: Born: 1786 or 1787 at Bearton, Buckinghamshire Army Service: 1809: Joined (Royal Wagon Train) 1814: Discharged, but re-enlisted seven months later. 1828: Imprisoned for 12 days after being found guilty by court martial (offence not recorded) 1832: Discharged to pension having served 24 years. Awards: Waterloo Medal: In the Waterloo Medal Book, George Cooling is listed under heading 'Royal Waggon Train' as a Private - Entry No 111 I have copies of his discharge papers showing that he was 'worn out'.

Cuss, thanks for posting these pictures...it is interesting to see this bar (have not seen it before). Regards, Owen

Hi Andre, Nice example of the medal - I have an interest in this medal and have an original box - you might be interested in the pictures I posted on this forum of the box etc: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=44740&st=0&p=413788&#entry413788 Regards, Owen

Many thanks - do you know how I might see/get hold of a copy? Googleing etc doesn't seem to offer any help.

Certainly a handsome box and great to have it - it amazes me that these boxes have survived in such good condition.

This is very interesting to see - it is the first I have seen like this. Is the top of the lid marked/inscribed in any way?

Thanks Elmar, this is very interesting...

Thanks for sharing your views - I am quite excited! I knew that the box was hard to come by, but I had no idea just how hard.

Wow! It is great to see the medal in the condition it should be and with the original ribbon...thank you for sharing the picture. I hear what you say about the suspension - it does seem fragile.

Hi - I am really glad that the box is of such interest and I would love to see the picture of the box that you have .... this whole subject area fascinates me (I guess in the main becasue these are tangible links with an extraordinary period in history). The smallest Ste Helene that I have (shown in the picture) is the size of a small fingernail and your comment about lapel chains answers a question I had posed mentally to myself (why so small!). Best wishes.

Hi, many thanks for the warm welcome and for the helpful info...I agree...I like this cross too and would really like to see it with the right ribbon. I haven't tried the OMSA ribbon bank - just googled it and see you have to be a paid up member...I am UK based, but will have a look tomorrow when I am a little fresher (its 3.45 am here and I should be tucked up!). Thanks again, Owen

Hi - I'm pleased that the box is of interest and thanks for the information on the réductions - but now you have set me a challenge to find as many different sizes as I can!!!

As a newbie to this forum (and site), I wanted to say hello here and to share my two Silver Crosses (issue size and a miniature) bought recently. I am trying to collect (as funds and time allow!) all the medals associated with the Peninsular Wars - having long had an interest in the subject area, it just seems a natural extension. I don't have any depth of knowledge with medal collecting and am very much 'learning as I go'....so any information/advice you might have would be gratefully received. Whilst I am sure that you will know more than me, here is what I think I know about the medals: I believe it was instituted in 1865 for the surviving veterans of the 1813-1815 campaigns - understand that less than 5000 were issued;It is in hallmarked silver - larger version hallmarked on the face of the medal with 'PZ' (makers mark) and the sword mark (Dutch purity mark for .833 silver) & miniature version hallmarked on the ribbon ring (see pictures)Issued in two sizes - 35mm and the miniature in 17mm So, here they are (I think both ribbons are original):

As a newbie to this forum (and site), I wanted to say hello and to share a small collection of Sainte Helene Medals and original box bought very recently. I am trying to collect (as funds and time allow!) all the medals associated with the Peninsular Wars - having long had an interest in the subject area, it just seems a natural extension. I don't have any depth of knowledge with medal collecting and am very much 'learning as I go'....so any any information/advice you might have would be gratefully received. I collected what I thought were the 3 different sizes for the Ste Helene Medal (although I now believe that there might be one more 'reduction' version...any advice on this gratefully received...see the picture below). Also, can anyone tell me where the medal is measured from/to? (normally, I would measure from side to side (i.e. across the widest part), but I understand that this medal is measured differently? I think that the ribbons are original (certainly on the smallest and the largest medals) and the box is in excellent condition and certainly original:

As a newbie to this forum (and site), I just wanted to say hello and to share a medal bought very recently.... the Austrian Army Cross 1813-1814 (aka Cannon Cross). I am trying to collect (as funds and time allow!) all the medals associated with the Peninsular Wars (and particularly Waterloo) having long had an interest in the subject area - it just seems a natural extension. I don't have any depth of knowledge with medal collecting and am very much 'learning as I go'....so any any information/advice you might have would be gratefully received. Does anyone know where I might get a ribbon for this medal (I tried and failed with the main ribbon suppliers that come up in google searches)? Anyway - I'm sure you will know more than me, but here's what I do know about the medal I have: Dates to the Hapsburg Monarchy 1814 - Emperor Francis I instituted the cross for the victory over Napoleon;27mm diameter;Made of forged brass;It is lacking the green enamel on both faces;It has the official 'hallmark' stamped onto the top of the suspension loop - a double eagle in a diamond;Has a thin grooved suspension ring (I believe that there were 3 types of suspension ring - thick grooved, plain and thin grooved).

Hello All - I am very new to both this forum and to collecting medals, but have been fascinated and impressed by your depth of knowledge and wide ranging information on this area of developing interest for me. I have enjoyed looking back over this thread and feel inspired to join in! I have long had an interest in the Peninsular Wars (retired army officer) and in Waterloo particularly. Having bought a British Waterloo Medal recently and fully researched that...my interest in the medals of the allies (and of the French) was piqued. I have bought several (including Dutch Commemorative Silver Cross, an Austrian Cannon Cross and a Ste Helene Medal in original box of issue) but, with respect to the German States, I now have a Brunswick Medal (issued to a Surgeon...Christian Krug of the 1st Line Battalion) and a Nassau Silver Medal (sadly without any recipient details). Hopefully the pictures migt be of some interest to you: BTW, if anyone has any idea how I might begin to research the medal to the Brunswick Surgeon - Christian Krug - I woud be very grateful indeed. Brunswick Medal to Company Surgeon Christian Krug of the 1st Line Battalion (I believe that everything is original, including the ribbon): Nassau Silver Medal (ribbon is not original):