Kev in Deva

Again the recent seller of the Irish Good Conduct Medal was also offering a Service Medal in a box, this box too is not official issue. The medal shown was officially issued to: 850660 Walker (?) When I get a little time I will photograph the issue boxes my Irish Army medals came in and post them. Kevin in Deva

I must also comment on the box the medal was pictured in while being a definate improvment on the official issue cardboard boxes this is not I believe official, I, certainly never saw any Irish medals issued in any such boxes while in service from 1976 - 1997. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Benas The first is an un-official Austrian Commemorative for service in WW2, the second is Romanian for Service in WW2 issued Post-Communist time to present day 1990 - 2007. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gentlemen I am posting here pictures of a Republic of Ireland Military Good Conduct Medal which recently sold for 779 GB Pounds on Ebay. From the selling description: "The medal is in excellent condition. It was issued in 1989 to a serving Irish Army NCO and has seen a little parade use. The medal is full size and, including ribbon, measures 3 and a ? inches long. Instituted by the Defense Forces in 1987 with the first medal presentations in 1989. The medal is ranked after the Distinguished Service Medal and before the Service Medal of the Permanent Defense Forces. The medal is awarded to an individual NCO or private soldier / sailor / airman in recognition of meritorious service characterized by exemplary conduct. The medals were only awarded to individuals with ten years continuous service and only 60 medals were awarded each year. Medals were presented at special presentation parades by the General Officer Commanding. The medal ceased to be issued after 1990 however, due to numerous arguments which arose in relation to the recipients of the medal. Therefore only 120 medals were ever issued. Additional Information from Kevin in Deva: An Bonn Dea Iompair. / The Good Conduct Medal. Medals are presented at ceremonial parades by General Officers Commanding. They may be awarded posthumously and an appropriate certificate accompanies each award. A curious clause in the regulations stipulates that a recipient who is subsequently commissioned may retain his GCM but may not wear it or the ribbon in officers uniform. There is also a provision for forfeiture in certain ceircumstances. The medal is heavy bronze, 35mm in diameter. Obverse: The figure of Eire is placing a wreath on the uncovered head of a kneeling soldier, the Irish name of the medal is to the left and there is a small spray of laurel to the right. Apart from the inscription*, (Service Number and Name) the design is identical to the obverse of the PDF Service Medal. * this would indicate to me that all issues were engraved with the receipiants number & name, the one from the auction is NOT engraved so Reverse: The inscription in English "THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL" with the receipiant's number, intials amd name in center. ALL GCM's are issued named. Ribbon: A significant departure from the traditional styles, the ribbon is 35 mm wide, orange with three 5 mm green stripes at 45 degrees from wearer's right to left. Suspension: Ring. Designer: Departmental. Manufacturer: P. Quin Ltd., Dublin. In view of the limited number od issues and the fact that all medals are named this may become the most important collector's item after the Military Medal for Gallentry andthe Distinguished Service Medal. As of 1990 the issue of this medal has been temporarily suspended and consideration is being given to altering its name and conditions of award.** ** In my time, and I served until late 1997, this medal had been predominantly issued to: Company-Quarter-Master-Sergeants, Company-Sergeants, Sergeants, Corporals, and a few Privates. The Military Police Corps had a high reciepiant rate, causing "Old-Sweats" to refer to it has the "Hang-man's Medal" or "Gate-Opener's Medal" some even proposed there should be a re-design with a Hang-man's noose on the Obverse!! Again with all such rare medals one can only wonder how a un-named specimen got to be issued to a "Serving NCO" in 1989 Kevin in Deva.

A couple more views.Any help with regards the ribbons appreciated. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gents I spotted this online it is un-identified, but the ribbon bars could be US. I am thinking along the lines of an item made for wear for OPFOR = OPPOSITION FORCES in US War Games. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Chris, I think it depends on who would be interested, if for example its an Ebay UK or USA auction and there are 3-5 guys interested the price could go higher. I would try a start price of GB 250 including postage by Registed Airmail worldwide to the winning bidders address and see what happens from there. But then again as Daffy Duck said I am a greeeedy little duck!!! Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Chris Medal Yearbook of 2006, page152 lists the following: EGYPT MEDAL 1882 - 1889. With "Gemaizah" 1888 bar, listed at GB Pounds 280 - 350 for the Large Size Medal. Note: if awarded to a "Native" then its mentioned they are worth approxamatly 25% less than if issued to a British Soldier. Kevin in Deva.

Another of these has surfaced on Ebay: See the reply I got when I quired the authnticity of the object: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...ADME:L:RTQ:DE:1 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Kevin in Deva

Hallo Don, many thanks for the link, I suspect its a repro and wont show any interest, he has more than a few "suspect items" up for sale. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, just spotted this online and wondered is it the real deal?? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...p;rd=1&rd=1 SELLER BLURB: A VERY RARE, AND 100% ORIGINAL AWARD GIVEN TO PARK KEEPERS BY THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT BETWEEN 1933 AND 1945..THERE IS NOTHING TO GUARANTEE ISSUE DATE, BUT IT IS SUPERBLY MADE, WITH NO DAMAGE TO AND PART, AND FANTASTICALLY MAKER MARKED ON THE REVERSE...IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE EVERY ONE UNDER THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT FEEL A PART OF THINGS, BADGES AND AWARDS WERE MADE FOR ALMOST EVERY WALK OF LIFE, AND PROFESSION AT SOME STAGE.. PLEASE NOTE. CONSIDERATION AND RESPECT FOR THE LAWS IN FRANCE AND GERMANY WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO SELL TO THESE TWO COUNTRIES. WHILE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM DOES NOT HAVE THE SAWSTIKA ON, IT STILL EMINATES FROM THAT PERIOD, AND WHILE NOT BREAKING ANY EBAY RULES, THIS ITEM MAY STILL CAUSE UPSET IN SOME AREAS, I WILL NOT THERE FOR SHIP TO FRANCE OR GERMANY..SIMILAR ITEMS HAVE BEEN SOLD ON EBAY MANY TIMES BEFORE, WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR OTHER SELLERS. END OF SELLER BLURB! Does he think Ebay Control are blind to whats on the eagles chest!! PS: Definate fake this one!! http://cgi.ebay.com/MEMBERSHIP-BADGE-GERMA...1QQcmdZViewItem Kevin in Deva

Gentlemen Many thanks for your helpful observations, I tried playing around with the scanner setting, this is the best I can get. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Carol I so far it has been reported that there have been 30 heat-related deaths in Romania, this summer!! Bucharest is hitting the +40?s Kevin in Deva.

Back of the card: At some stage it was stuck in an Album, the white stuff is fairly easy to remove, a job for a wet day, but at +34? I might have to wait a week or so to see rain Kevin in Deva.

Close up of the Medals: No. 2 1878 Military Campaign Medal? No. 3 Signum Laudis Medal? Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents I picked this picture up at the recent Collectors Fair in Deva. All it has printed on it are the words TOM. BURATO and ZARA on the front. The medals appear to be: 1. ORDER OF FRANZ-JOSEF, Knights Cross. 2. (?) 3. (?) 4. Officers Military Service Cross. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Alex K, A really beautiful piece, its always nice to get an idea of the value, if only for insurance puroses. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Carol I Thanks, all input no matter how small is very welcome. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Charles and Gordon many thanks for the information with regards the badge, seems looking into boxes full of pins can pay off no and again if you want we could merge this thread with yours. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Pete, thanks for posting the link to this site, more repros to be added to the Repro / Fake folder. In my opinion the German Field Honour Cross he has is a poor cast copy of the original, the soldier not being to well defined and to the rear the Maker info looks like a poor attempt at a copy, and the pin seems to be bent out of shape, but, probably good enough to fool a novice though! Kevin in Deva

Hallo Speedytop many thanks for the info and pictures, especially some of the ones missing from my set. I believe there were 16 locations that were awarded the designation "Hero Cities" so I think it would be correct to take that figure as a "set"?? Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, Another pick-up at the Deva Collectors Fair held on the 23rd of June 2007. Small colourful Insignia / Badge. RPR - AVSAP. Item shows an anchor with crossed propeller and rifle. Size: 27 mm X 20 mm, Vertical broach fasetening to rear, No Maker Mark. I presume a Maratime Border Security unit responsible for controling the border along the Danube and the shores of the Black Sea. Carol I, any input welcome, as usual. Kevin in Deva

Hallo hunyadi thanks for the help to id the piece, have you any more information with regards the "'Magyar Szabadsagharcos Szovetseg - (Hungarian Freedom Fighters Associaiton)". This was one of a few badges I found rooting throughba shoebox full of insignia and pins on a dealers table. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Carol I Again my many thanks for your insight with regards the items I post. Its good to know we have somebody with us who can clarify the items in the correct context especialy when dealing with items upon which their is so little reference material available, as of yet. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Ricky, many thanks for your translation and identification, its surprising what can be found in a shoe-box full of various pins on a dealers table, all it took was about 30 minutes and a couple of sore fingers from the pins, all the badges I listed were found amongst the many in the box. Kevin in Deva