Kev in Deva

Hallo Darrell Not wanting to get into any conspiricy theories I just sold a French medal on Ebay with a shaking hand motif, either "Freemason" connected or a Mutual-relief society, maybe connected maybe not It (yours pictures) may be lodge connected but I would ask one of our resident Masonic Experts to comment. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Chris Any chance of seeing a picture of the hole in the front of the helmet, from what I recall Afgan ones had an insignia on the sides not the front. Kevin in Deva

EE BY GUM YOUVE A MUCKY MIND LAD Kevin in Deva

well how about we dip her in honey first to hide the bad taste Kevin in Deva.

NOW THATS AN IDEA... maybe we could house the bears with old whashername "ms iditcome MP" Kevin in Deva

Hallo Mike It sure looks like it was in the ground for a while, thats fairly heavy pitting, my two pfennigs worth. Kevin in Deva.

Reported In THE BUCHAREST DAILY NEWS: Brit guards' bearskin hats may be banned AP A British lawmaker is gathering support for his call to ban the towering bearskin hats worn for almost 200 years by the red-coated soldiers who guard the country's royal palaces. The motion, introduced by Labour party lawmaker Chris Mullin in March, declares the hats made from the fur of Canadian black bears "have no military significance and involve unnecessary cruelty." Conservative lawmaker Ann Widdecombe has now urged her party to support the motion aimed at replacing the bearskins with artificial substitutes. "Black bears, who are intelligent and curious animals, are slaughtered in Canada so that their skins may be used for ceremonial hats," Widdecombe wrote in a letter to her party colleagues on Thursday. Widdecombe's letter was obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday. So far, 180 of 646 lawmakers in the House of Commons have signed the motion. On Sunday, about 100 animal rights activists staged a naked demonstration in London to protest against the hats. The royal guards who wear the foot-tall black bearskin hats, bright red tunics and white gloves are one of the most recognizable symbols of Britian. Tourists flock to Buckingham Palace, the queen's London home, to watch the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony. An army spokesman said officials have been searching for an alternative and have tested a false fur that was hot and tended to matte in rainy weather, durable and rich bearskin is preferred. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with department policy, said the army also strives to repair instead of replace its 2,500 hats. "Not a single bear is killed (solely) to make a bearskin hat," the army spokesman said. "Both governments in the United States and Canada have policies to keep the bear population under control." Canadian black bears are not an endangered species. The Defense Ministry buys 50 to 100 bearskin pelts a year to outfit its five regiments wearing them. One complete bearskin hat costs $1,197 and can last up to 40 years. END OF ARTICLE Maybe we could sell you some Romanian Bearskin from Brasov, where we have a small bear problem, they tend to wander into town at night and have attacked people, while on a night out!! Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, first I have heard about this, true story or a spoof to sell replica helmets?, the seller is out of China, his spiele goes: "In the Second World War, the Chinese Army is the first one to use M35 helmets, even earlier than any German Military Forces. Because the World War already started in Asia when China went to fight against Jap in 1935 and the F?hrer decided to support China with German Military supplies. He sent German generals to China to help to setup and train and command 40 new grenadier divisions and Panzer Units. These troops equipments are all made in German: helmets(the first M35 helmets), rifles, uniforms and other supplies. That's why this helmet is here. (Very weird, actually the first German military personnel died in WW2 was a Chinese Panzer Unit's commanding officer in Shanghai, a German lieutenant, killed by Japs" I took the liberty of copying the pictures from the site before they disapear. The badge on the helmet looks like a stick-on-decal from a model plane kit Also the size of the chin strap to the fitting seems to be very thin and lightweight, the linner looks brandnew, and it dosent help that in one photo the liner retaining rivets have been removed. Kevin in Deva

Another Update this time from: BUCHAREST DAILY NEWS: Soldier injured in Afghanistan blast in critical condition by Alecs Iancu One of the Romanian troops injured on Tuesday morning in a blast near Kandahar, Afghanistan is in critical condition and was transported to a German hospital later during the night. Sergeant Costinel Valerica Slaniceanu has multiple head traumas and injuries to his legs and torso, according to the Defense Ministry. Slaniceanu and three other soldiers were injured in a blast that targeted a Romanian convoy heading back to base from a patrolling mission. One soldier, Corporal Ionel Gheorghita Dragusanu, died in the blast as the APC he was riding in drove over an explosive device. Two other soldiers injured in the blast, Sub-Lieutenant Dinu Razvan Manoila and Sergeant Laurentiu Serban were also transported to Germany. They have wounds in their legs, but they are medically stable. The fourth soldier, Iosif-Adrian Luca-Micu is outside any danger and is being monitored by doctors at the Kandahar base. Dragusanu and the other four soldiers were part of 341st Infantry Battalion, which is scheduled to end its mission to Afghanistan at the beginning of next month. Dragusanu was advanced to the rank of sub-lieutenant post-mortem. The incident brought the death toll of Romanian troops that lost their life in Afghanistan to four and heated talks about the presence of the troops in the Middle East. A non-governmental organization called the LIDER Association for Human Rights, based in Targu Mures, publicly asked President Traian Basescu yesterday to establish a timetable for troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq. Romania has about 900 troops in Afghanistan and 800 in Iraq. The head of the association, Cornel Briscaru, said that several states that took part in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts next to U.S.-led coalition forces have set a timetable for pullout, "out of respect for their citizens and for the citizens and democratically-elected institutions in the two countries." END OF UPDATE.

RIVETS & CATCH

MAKER NAME & HINGE

REAR

A Fake OSANG that was sold to me as an original in 2003 while I was in Germany. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Boils and Gurls Recent Assman Fake being offered on Ebay. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo J Temple-West will do as well as photos of my original "Fake" Kevin in Deva.

Hallo steve K. many thanks for your assesment Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Stogieman I emailed the guy via ebay and asked for more pictures, awaiting the answer. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gentlemen, having been burned before with regards a para badge that turned out to be a fake,I obtained these pictures of a Para badge up for sale on Ebay, any opinions please. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Mike here is some more information about the incident: A Romanian serviceman was killed and other four injured in an incident in south Afghanistan near the military base in Kandahar, Monday night. The victim is Corporal Ionel Gheorghita Dragusanu R.I.P. (38), with Battalion 341 Infantry in Topraistar since 2001. He was married, with one child. Corporal Ionel Gheorghita Dragusanu had only a few more days to stay in Afghanistan, having already been on mission for almost six months. His wife, Mariana, says that she spoke on the phone with him on Monday, and he told her that he felt very tired and was hardly waiting to return home. Dragusanu lived at Basarabi, Constanta County, and had a daughter 12 years old. The commander of his unit, Major Paul Moglan, said that Dragusanu was a very ambitious man, and had been the first to request to go on mission to Afghanistan. The other soldiers injured are under-lieutenant Dinu Razvan Manoila (25), warrant officer Iosif-Adrian Luca-Micu (37), sergeant Costinel Valerica Slaniceanu (28) and sergeant Laurentiu Serban (27), the National Defence Ministry reports. Three of the soldiers injured are stable at the Kandahar base hospital, and the forth one, sergeant Salniceanu, is in very serious condition. If necessary, the victims will be flown to the hospital in Germany. The coalition military convoy was returning to the base from a patrol mission. The soldiers were in a reconnaissance mission with an armored transporter, the first in a row of four such vehicles, and drove over an explosive device. After the convoy came to a halt, the patrol head and two other soldiers went to the first transporter, according to the protocol in such situations, to help the victims. While doing so, sergeant Serban triggered a second explosive device and suffered a leg injury, according to the Ministry of National Defence (MoD). The heads of the MoD are extending their regret for the tragic event and sends condolences to the family of the dead corporal, who was promoted to the rank of under-lieutenant, post mortem. The Ministry of Defence has cancelled the celebrations occasioned by the 175th anniversary of the set up of the Military Music in sign of respect for late corporal Ionel Gheorghita Dragusanu. The celebrations were scheduled for Thursday and Sunday, this week. Three other victims Another Romanian soldier was killed in April 2005, and, in November 2003, two died in Afghanistan under an attack launched against their convoy on their way back to base. On the 11th of November 2003, an armoured convoy was shot at near the border with Pakistan. Sergeant major Silviu Fogorasi was killed and sergeant major Mihail-Anton Samuila was injured. Samuila died on the 14th of November in a US army hospital at Bagram. In April 2005, Narcis Marius Sonei (under-lieutenant post mortem) was killed in a Taleban attack. Several Romanian soldiers have been injured while on mission in Afghanistan over time: sergeant Gabriel Hanganu suffered serious burns in a Taleban attack in April 2005. In the same month, same year, sergeant Adrian Dogaru was also injured. In March 2006, two other were injured in a blast while carrying out a patrol mission approximately 30 km S-E of the Kandahar base. There are nearly 500 Romanian troops currently deployed in South Afghanistan where they guard the coalition air base. Thirty-seven soldiers of the coalition forces have been killed on a mission in Afghanistan this year. . . . . by Dana Fagarasanu in: http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=de...d=20060620-5259

Hallo Mike, thank you for your kind consideration and reply, interesting link too Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gentlemen A Romanian soldier was killed and four others were injured in an explosion near Kandahar, Afghanistan, bringing the death toll of Romanian troops in the country to four. Yesterday morning's blast targeted a four-vehicle convoy just outside the southern city of Kandahar as the troops were returning to their base, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. One armored vehicle drove over an explosive device, killing a 38-year-old corporal instantly and wounding three other soldiers, one seriously, the statement said. A fourth soldier suffered leg wounds when he stepped on another explosive device after the remaining Romanian vehicles stopped to help the targeted vehicle, the statement said. The attack came amid a large-scale U.S.-led offensive across four southern provinces aimed at curbing the deadliest spike in Taliban violence since the extremist regime's 2001 ouster. The explosion was so powerful that it split the APC in which the corporal was riding in two pieces and left its hull engulfed in flames, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. Bucharest authorities have not made any decision regarding the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and do not have any intention in doing so soon, said Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu in Rome yesterday. The minister had a meeting with his Italian counterpart Massimo D'Alema and discussed the situation in Iraq, given that Italy will pull back its troops from the Middle East country by the end of the year. "As for the Romanian presence in Iraq, no decision has been made regarding the withdrawal of our troops and we do not have any intention of this kind in mind. It is not wrong, however, that we do not plan to increase the number of troops," said Ungureanu, answering a question about Romania's intentions, given that Italy is pulling back from Iraq. D'Alema explained that Italy considers its military experience in Iraq over and its contribution in human lives and financial costs has ended. More information to follow.

WHAT! NO TAKERS to tell me the rank, or branch of Service ? Unbeliveable!! Incredible!! Its not like I was expecting a reading from a crystal ball to tell me the guys name, address, service number, colour of his eyes, hair etc..etc.. and what he had for breakfast, dinner and tea Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Rick, the attached photo is of a bar I was offered at in Brasov two years ago for 180 Euros, the seller afterwards sold it online to a compatriot for 100 US Dollars It has a "soviet" style spange I am also trying to verify if the "Civil" awards were actualy pinned under the medal bar, or if worn on the opposite pocket. The medals on the bar are: Liberation from the Faschists Medal R. P. R. 1949. Military Merit / Service Medal, R. P. R. (with 10 yr ribbon.) *1954. 5th Annivesary of the Proclamation of the Romanian Peoples Republic Medal, R. P. R. 1952. 10 Years Since The Foundation Of The First Units of the Romanian Peoples Army Units Medal 1953. Victory Over Germany, Russian Medal. Czechoslovak War Cross (1939 - 1940). (single white stripe denotes Gold Ist Class, the II Class ribbon for the silver medal has two thin white stripes. according to the lgaszewski site Kevin in Deva

Hallo Ulsterman The medal in the first Post is actually a Bravery Medal, but I dont know what he did to get it EDIT: Seems it was awarded for long and good service. The Anniversary medals for the Defeat of the Fascists probabaly are awarded to veterans of the War. The Agricultural Medal was given for the development of the farming communes, of which there are higher grades. The Anniversary of the Communist Party Medal obviously awarded to members both civil and military as it features on military bars. I have contacted a local guy (by email) who collects Romanian awards and I asked him for some specifics. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Paul, I was sure there was some info posted on the Forum, but I cant locate it The below information found online after a search with Yahoo. - Medals of Post-War Germany for WWI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page ? 1998 Micheal Shackelford. Images and information provided by Hendrik Meersschaert. Der Baltenkreuz / TheBaltic Cross: was warded to the members of the Baltic militia (Landeswehr) and the German volunteer units in the Baltic area that, before 1 July 1919, had been for at least 3 months "under fire" (i.e. on active service and having participated in fighting) in the Baltic countries. It is a black oxydized metal cross with a gilt 'Hochmeister" of the German Knighthood Order cross, ending in lilies, on top of it. The reverse is plain. There was only one "class" of this award, but it could be worn as either a breast pin or from a white ribbon with a central blue band and blue stripes near the ribbon's edge. This gives rise to some notations as the ribbon-hung issue being a "2nd Class", similar to the Iron Cross, but there was only the one class. The Baltic cross was instituted in the summer of 1919 by the "Baltische Nationalausschu?" in commemoration of the Baltic liberation fights in 1918-19 (in S?dlivland and Kurland). This Nationalausschu? was the political representation of the German Baltic population in Latvia at the time. In total 21,839 crosses were issued. It was only on 16 May 1933 that the Baltic Cross was officially recognized as an offical German award. Kevin in Deva.