DutchBoy

Riley, Those are 1000 posts that have enriched this forum....keep up the great work!!

I remember this happening a year or two ago as well. Then it was a misunderstanding between the owner of the forum and the provider as I recall. The issue was resolved in a day or two then. I don't go there much anymore, but have great memories of that forum, and loads of useful info. For now I like this forum better...

Rich, You've dipped your feet in the Soviet orders pool....all I can say is: Get ready to swim!

VC.....so simple.....so cool! Just as a matter of interest, does anyone know if any VCs to South Africans have been sold recently? I hear 27 were issued to South Africans through both world wars. p.s. Ralph, is that a real one or a copy you've got there? Cause if it's a real one...NICE WORK THERE!!!!

That would truly be an excellent premise for a horror movie for us medal guys.....

I thought at first the whiskey I had was too strong for me.....thank God it was just the pictures! Cool post!

I think it must be said that Russian law does not apply to any other country, so if the Russian government claims a certain piece is stolen, they would need to produce some evidence of that fact first. No foreign law enforcement agency anywhere would confiscate an item unless clear evidence that it was stolen is produced. If it ever came to that, realistically I think they would only ever bother to prosecute a handful of easily proven cases (in which case I would support it if they were actually stolen). All in all, though, I think the Russian authorities would end up being more embarrassed than anything else after a while, and not many countries would go along with what is clearly a waste of time.

Apart from that dealer breaking up groups The greatest sin next to murder!! They also have prices that are simply unbelievable! I don't know about the Imperial German stuff that much, but the stuff they're selling from other countries are typically AT LEAST 30-50% more than from many other dealers. To their credit though, they sell some very nice stuff!

The award box for the De Wet Decoration. A simple cardboard box with the name of the recipient and the serial number.

This is the De Wet Decoration for 20 years' service in the Commandos of the South African Defence Forces. The medal was instituted in 1965 - 2003. Clasps were available for 30 and 40 years' service. There is also a de Wet medal, instituted in 1987, for 10 years' service. It is similar to the present medal, but in bronze. Depicted on the obverse is General Christiaan de Wet, who was an Afrikaner commander during the Boer War. The image is taken from a statue in Bloemfontein. This medal is numbered 45 on the rim, making it one of the earliest awarded. It was awarded to Kommandant M. J. Claasen of the Kirkwood Commando (see box next post).

I've never even heard of someone having some of those pieces in a private collection....SWEET!!!

Venda Prisons Service 20 year Service Medal.

Thanks for the kind words Jacky! I'm not sure about researching SA medals, I've never heard of that happening. Matt.

South African Correctional Services 20 year service medal.

South African Correctional Services Medal for Merit for Commissioned Officers.

South African citizen force, John Chard Decoration for 20 years service in the Citizen Force (I think this is the same as the Home Guard). This is the type 5 which is chrome-plated brass. Therefore the image is quite dark from the scanner light.

South African Defence Forces 30 year service medal.

South African Defence Force Pro Merito Medal. This is the junior officers and enlisted man version of the Pro Merito Decoration in post #1.

Transkei Military Rule Medal. In 1987, there was a coup in Transkei by general Bantu Holomisa, and this medal was issued to all men and women in uniform, no doubt to strengthen their loyalty to the new regime.

Here's some more additions to my SA collection: This is the Ciskei "Medal for the Maintenance of Law and Order", also known as the "medal for State Security" for minimum 60 days service against terrorism and internal unrest.

The high military orders have been continued by the Russian Federation, like the Nakhimov, Ushakov, Nevsky, Suvorov, and Kutuzov. As far as I know the Bogdan Khmelnitsky Order has not been continued by the Russians, presumably because of its Ukrainian connection (and the fact that Ukraine now has its own version of the Khmelnitsky Order). The order of Service to the Motherland has been taken up by Belarus, who made a few minor changes to it.

Very nice as always Ed. Cool to have an Afghan connection...fits right in with your other interests...

Darrell, Great to hear about the bravery of Canadians! I bought a new book on the Canadian honours last year called "the Canadian Honours System" by Christopher McCreery. Excellent book detailing historical and current awards of Canada and the provinces...excellent read!

Hi Order of Victory, This is the North Vietnamese Friendship Decoration, established on 20 june 1960. It was one of only two Vietnamese awards to be serial numbered, and were manufactured somewhere in Eastern Europe. Around 20,000 were issued. source: "Orders, Decorations and Badges of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" by Edward J. Emering (1997).

Very nice items!