Kev in Deva

Hallo Paul, Yes the larger picture is of the Austro-Hungarian soldier of WW1 period. I believe its the Edelweiss collar tab for: 87th SS Foot Regiment (Innsbruck). According to: Uniforms of the SS by Andrew Mollo, page 42 & 43. also: Page 38 & 39: Commissioned ranks on the staff of the Ss sub-district XXXVI. Leaders with the rank of SS-Standartf?hrer and above wore the edelwiess on the armbage on the lower sleeve. Kevin in Deva.

Actually Ricky, I ask have they "etwas mit b?se abzeichen" in my Transylvanian lisp, by the way you might find the picture of the Hungarian soldier interesting, I did, but had no way to bring it back though I also picked up this from the same guy as the medals: Silk-Screen printed and original as I blacklighted it. Kevin in Deva,

Hallo Gents, recently I attended the Militaria Fair at Reichertshoffen, very high prices and quite a few fake pices seen, I did not by any 3 Reich pieces there, but a week later I was at an open air flohmakt in Senden, near Ulm, Bavaria. It was the usual mix of old but good condition household items, some military equipment pieces, but on the way out I just happened to asked a guy if he had anything in the way of medals and he produced this set from inside his car: As the price was way below what was asked at Reichertshoffen, for similar, I took them, and welcome any opinions. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gents, with regards the defence of the Zeppelins, they were heavilly defended by machine guns and they did have a couple of exposed machine gun posts on the upper surface, however the main defence against attack was to quickly gain height against the attacking planes and against anti-aircraft artillery, in the early days of the Zeppelin raids it was found that ordinary machinegun bullets were next to useless as they just passed through the gas bags many of which were quickly patched up by the crew before to much gas had been lost. Also the planes flown against the Zepp's had a lot of difficulty getting up to them and later a more powerful engine was designed and used in the Sopwith Camel to enable the RFC / RAF to bring the fight to the Zeppelins. It was not until the developement of a special .303 tracer round that the Zeppelins had much to fear as the tracer ignighted the gas with disasterous effects. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Darrel. my question would be "Were Ostvolk medals even issued to German soldiers with 12 years service??" Personally I find the configuration to be very unusal. Kevin in Deva

Hallo TerryG congratulations on the very nice "strawberry-seed" enamel job you have acquired Kevin in Deva (still in Kempten, Germany).

Dear Gentlemen, many thanks for your kind comments and suggestions with regards this item, I have waited a while and think the suggestion to wait and seek a really nice piece, is good advice good advice. Again my thanks. Kevin in Deva (momentaraly in Kempten Allgau)

The reverse with pin showing the stamp. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, while I have 33 EK 2 on various spanges, and singles in my collection, I have yet to venture into the First Class area. I have been offered this one by a dealer in Kempten where I am visiting, he had no objection to me taking pictures so I could get an opinion of the piece, it is marked on the pin "900". Rear picture to be attached on the following post, please excuse the size as I am using another persons computer and have failed miserably at resizing!! Kevin in Deva (in Kempten Allgau.)

Hallo Gents, I have been offered this PAB FLL 43 while here on a visit to Germany. Can you give an opinion please. Many thanks Gents. Kevin in Deva

WW2 Spike Bayonet and Bowie blade bayonet for the No 4 Mk Lee-Enfield. The lower version was in use with the Irish Defense Force Reserve up until the mid 1980's!! Then they changed to the F.N. 7.62mm SLR and I believe now they are armed with the Austrian Styer 5.56mm AUG. Kevin in Deva.

If thats so they got short changed with the Lee-Enfield Mk 4 bayonet now that really was a piece of crap! No Handle, just a blade on a short bit with a ring to slip over the barrell. I will look to see if I can find a picture of the dirty thing With regards the Revolution, more combat fatalities would have been inflicted by bayonet as the British troops of the period were taught to charge after firing off a couple of vollys and to rely more on Cold Steel. Kevin in Deva

Sergeant killed in Afghanistan buried with military honours http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=de...d=20070910-7362 Sergeant major Aurel Marcu who was killed din Afghanistan on Thursday 6th September 2007 is the sixth Romanian military to lose his life in the theatres of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now there are 855 Romanian soldiers in Afghanistan, 760 of which with the NATO ISA published in issue 4015 page 6 at 2007-09-10 Promoted post-mortem to the rank of sublieutenant, Aurel Marcu was buried yesterday in his home commune of Matasaru, in Dambovita County. The corpse of the sergeant was flown to Base 90 Air Transportation by a Hercules C-130 H aircraft on Saturday night. In his message of condolence given on the occasion, PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu expressed his deep regret over the loss of the Romanian soldier: ?This is a sad moment for Romania ? the loss of sublieutenant Aurel Marcu. A painful moment both for his family, for his mates and for us all. Aurel proved a lot of courage and commitment to Romania and to the Romanian Army and that is why we are all so very proud of him. He served his country as heroes do. I recall his sacrifice, his outstanding commitment shown during his mission and we are close to you, his family,? said Tariceanu, quoted by Rompres, during the repatriation ceremony. The Premier sent his sincerest condolences and his compassion and solidarity to the wife of the victim. ?He is a hero of his family, a hero of Romania you all have a right to be proud of,? said the Head of the Executive. A panel of priests officiated a military-religious service and the Order issued by Defence Minister Theodor Melescanu promoting Aurel Marcu to the rank of sublieutenant, post mortem, was presented. The President?s decree conferring upon Aurel Marcu the ?Star of Romania? National Order in degree of Cavalier, for soldiers with a war marks post-mortem. Wreaths were laid by at the catafalque on behalf of the Presidency, Government, defence Ministry and foreign military attaches in Bucharest. On Thursday after-noon, the Romanians soldier was together with other military on an armoured transport vehicle ? the first in a row of three ? on a mission to the Afghan province of Zabul, 20 km North-East of Qalat, when they drove over an improvised explosive device. The Romanian sergeant major died and other four Romanians were seriously injured. His colleagues say that Marcu had sacrificed his life in Afghanistan for a better livelihood in Romania. He was married, he had a child and was saving money to buy a home for himself and his family. - - - - - - END OF ARTICLE - - - - - Kevin in Deva.

Hi Gents, even though T.R. is not my main area of interest, I must agree with Stogieman, the multitude of pitting and the small crack's confirm this is indeed a poor cast copy. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Danny, a rare and not to often seen item, congratulations on your find. A picture of the headstone would be interesting to see, he was buried in Esker Cemetary, Lucan, Co. Dublin Kevin in Deva

It might just be my eyes bur the rust looks to be too symetrical, all around the edges, is it real or chemicaly applied?? Kevin in Deva.

Any closer pictures of the rear hinge pin and clasp area?? Kevin in Deva.

Close up Front. Under the soldier at the 6 o'clock position can be discerned "X X". In all it was an interesting day just before getting back home to Deva, this occurred as we approached the town, lucky enough the drivers in front of us managed to stop in time. The cause, a mini bus driving on the left (out of camera shot) on-coming side to us, stopped suddenly to drop off some passengers at a side road, the red truck carrying window glass was right up the mini buses rear end, the red-truck driver stood on the brakes, but clipped the rear of the mini-bus, and the car following the red truck managed to run in under the chassis, luckily for the car driver his windscreen did not break with the weight of the red trucks rear wheels passing over it, the car driver and front seat passenger did get a smack in the face by the airbags and of course were shocked by what happened. In all a very lucky escape, (but two drivers will be getting nailed by the Police for tail-gateing) which is normal for the Romanian road abusers!! So drive safe chaps and enjoy the weekend!! Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gents, Todays pick up from the local "Hobby Club" the Romanian Communist-Period: Medalia jubiliara "A XX-a aniversare a Fortelor Armata ale R.P.R." complete with box and mini ribbon bar. Kevin in Deva.

No fair you got a head start Nice selection maybe, when you have a day or two you will list the diffences Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Chaps, As it was up for grabs, I grabbed it the Serbian Medal for Zeal. apparently struck in silvered bronze and awarded to non-combat unit Officers for exemplary service, the Gilded bronze version is for Combat Unit Officers. Apparently manufactured in France WW1 period. on a dark blue triangular ribbon. The ribbon ring is a replacement though! Now it resides under the gaze of the old Citidel in Deva. Many thanks to Noor Kevin in Deva

I must add from an asthetic point of view all those showing medal Ose dont add much to its appeal, it would not have been so hard to dress the bar to hide the ironworks. I dount if a self-respecting military-tailor-provider would add his name to it, I mean its not a great advertisement of the work, is it? Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, Any comments on the method of fixing the medals through the ribbons to some kind of "ring" Its not something I have noticed before The backing material also shows no kind of wear what so ever, and with such tiny thin thread!! If coming from a firm with E.M. in the name I would treat it with much suscpicion.

Hallo Gents with regards the Inter-Allied Victory Medals of Italy it should be noted that there are: OFFICIAL: (Orsolini's Design). Type 1. Sacchini - Milano Type 2. S. Johnson - Milano Type 3. F. M. Lorioli & Castelli - Milano Type 4. (Unknown Maker) Type 5. (Unknown Maker) REISSUE: Type 1. Contemporary version by S. Johnstone. Less detail than official issue. Type 2. Manufacturer not indicated, Has a number of die variations compared to the official issue. UNOFFICIAL: Type 1. Czech - made (Orsolini's Design) Type 2. Standing Victory (Unknown Maker) Type 3. Walking Victory (Unknown) Type 4 (Landing Victory)REPRO: Type 1. Cast copy of variety by S. Johnson, Poor contemporary copy made in England. Type 2. Cast copy of variety by F. M. Lorioli & Castelli. Type 3. Appears to be a contemporary version of the Inofficial Type 1. Has monor obverse and reverse die variations and a thicker planchet compaired to the Unofficial Type 1. Die variations are most obvious in the shape of the letters in top inscription on the reverse. All the above from: The Inter-Allied Victory Medal of World War 1, 2nd Revised Edition, by Alexander J. Laslo. Since this publication I believe there are two futher REPRODUCTIONS to come onto the International market. Tony, there are a few original variations on the Italian Victory Medal Ribbon which cover the original issue, and replacement ribbon over time post WW1. Kevin in Deva.

No offense intended to the poster BUT Is this actual English being written here? Do we really need to be addressed like small children? I can tolarate the English language being mis-spelt by a non-native, but this "baby talk" is beyond that. And could somebody PLEASE change the title to: "Medals of The Republic of Viet-Nam". Kevin in Deva "slowly going ga-ga ga-ga, "