Kev in Deva

Even sadder is the elderly gentleman (and I have seen this more than once), just in off the long train ride from the villages, who arrives in New Delhi, goes to one of the familiar dealers with his treasure lovingly wrapped in a handkerchief. It is his ancestor's treasured Victoria Cross that he does not want to sell, but must to raise funds. As he tearfully unwraps the family's pride, we learn that the Victoria Cross was a four-pointed star with a crown, crossed swords, and a wreath. Who wants to be the one to tell him that his 1914-15 Star will not solve the family's financial crisis?

Hallo Ed

Just as sad to observe an old Romanian gentleman upon hard times, come to an Exposition in Bucharest, and get "mugged" just inside the door by a "reputable" dealer, for his families 6 Officer decorations, including the Commander Crosses of the Crown and Star of Romania, while not fully understand the language, I was savvy enough to follow what was happening, the old "but you know they have an historic value, but not a monatary one, and I will do you a favour by giving you a little over the value. . ." spiel..

He gave the old gentleman 3 million lei, which at the time was worth about 95 Euro for all the items and the following week in pride of place at the dealers business was each item with a price tag of 120 Euros. Seems the sharks are always waiting to pounce, speaking of sharks. . . . .

http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-German-Ribbon-Bar...1QQcmdZViewItem

I would tell him what it really is but after telling him that his DDR uniforms were not really suitable for WW2 German re-enacting or display for iii reich militaria he has me on his blocked list.

Maybe this one was meant for Adolf, the one he never wore

Kevin In Deva.

kevin!

thanks for your interesting research.

my granny used to say, "don't let the facts

get in the way of his/her truth".....

i guess because i travel from north carolina

to pennsylvania on a regular basis that

i'm an expert on mules, mushrooms, and the

liberty bell....

joe

Hallo Joe. thanks for the comment.

DING - DONG speaking of bells I hope our resident research expert Rick. might be able to confirm,:

1. were woundbadges given out retrospective for the Boxer rebellion to Prussian troops.??

2. Were Colonial troops in line for EKs and wound badges in colonial service?

Something at the back of my mind sets a little humongus alarm bell ringing that they didnt qualify for the EKs.

When armed with the appropriate ammunition I might get a chance to blow "S.S. Victoria" out of the water with a broadside of my own.

As for her comment "Please dont forget I am a German" unless she included a psychic link on the auction page, about her nationality and the fact she has seen documentation, relating to the item, how are we suposed to know

Another quirk of her listings is you only get to see one side of an object thats up for sale.

Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gentlemen here is the sellers reply to my question:

"Dear Sir,

The badge in question for your information the background is fretted out. Wounded badges were issued to those soldiers in the Boxer Rebellion and South West Africa, they are the same as the one I have. Please bear in mind that a host of medals and badges were issued well after the period they were meant for. Take for instance the 1914 Hindenburg Cross for Frontline Combatants. They were issued fron 1934 onwards. So your argument and ill conceived issue has conveniently been blown out of the water. Thank you for your info. I will keep it in mind. Have a Bratwurst & Schnapps on me.

Regards........Victoria."

Like the description of the item, seems that the lady picks and chooses the relevant bits of information to suit her tastes. (Bratwurst & Schnapps ) Give me a good chicken Curry anyday.

After contacting the seller a second time to ask more about the item I received the following:

The problem with your statement is that I can prove who the soldier is and the medal does have urkunde. I bought the medal from a family in Germany. I bought everything appertaining to the man in question. His Iron Crosses, Colonial Badge, Wounded Badge (Wounded 3 times in the book) etc;. The only thing they wouldn't sell me was his Militarpass Book and the Urkunde for all his medals. I bought everything else including his Pickelhaube. They wanted to keep the paperwork for future generations of the family. So unfortunately that's another argument blown out of the water. Please don't forget that I am a German and I return to Germany every 2 months from the UK. I have an awful lot of contacts in the Militaria Business. I do know what I'm talking about. Thank you for your advice, but this time, sorry you're wrong.

Regards............Victoria.

My underlines.

Strangely enough the second reply came via ebay from: iron_cross_bunker( 357) 99,2%

Positive Bewertungen: 99,2%

Mitglied seit: 11.01.03

Ort: West Dunbartonshire, Gro?britannien

Angemeldet am: www.ebay.co.uk

where as the original reply came from:b] guaranteed_originals( 161) 98,2%

Positive Bewertungen:98,2%

Mitglied seit: 27.04.04

Ort: West Dunbartonshire, Gro?britannien

Angemeldet am: www.ebay.co.uk

So any more opinions on this?? I dont think I will be buying from Victoria, despite her "awful lot of contacts in the militaria business

He also states he will refund your money if not as described yet he doesn't really describe anything....

Hallo Gentlemen here is the sellers reply to my question:

"Dear Sir,

The badge in question for your information the background is fretted out. Wounded badges were issued to those soldiers in the Boxer Rebellion and South West Africa, they are the same as the one I have. Please bear in mind that a host of medals and badges were issued well after the period they were meant for. Take for instance the 1914 Hindenburg Cross for Frontline Combatants. They were issued fron 1934 onwards. So your argument and ill conceived issue has conveniently been blown out of the water. Thank you for your info. I will keep it in mind. Have a Bratwurst & Schnapps on me.

Regards........Victoria."

Like the description of the item, seems that the lady picks and chooses the relevant bits of information to suit her tastes. (Bratwurst & Schnapps ) Give me a good chicken Curry anyday.

Gentlemen of the Jury;

While the item listed is not realy a FAKE, the sellers description takes more than a few libertys

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/German-Silver-Coloni...1QQcmdZViewItem

Kevin in Deva.

Jacques, that is the most interesting photo montauge! The bar top left is a killer! Thank you for expanding my knowledge horizen.

The last two medals that can be seen clearly on the bar, at top left are Romainian Royal Medals:

Barbatie si Credenti / Manhood and Loyalty.

and the Crusade Against Communisum Medal 1941.

Both were freely awarded to the German Forces by the Romanians, well up untill 1944 anyways

Kevin in Deva.

Two of the bars (Italia and Siberia) were authorised later than the others. These two bars are extremely rare.

The precedence of the bars is usually cronological, but not always.

Hallo Dragos,

Welcome to the club, and thank you for the information, every little piece helps us understand more about Romania's part in World War 1, alot of this information, has been missing from people outside of Romania with military history interest, and, who are also interested in Romanian Military awards.

Kevin in Deva

I found this and was wondering if it was for real, If so I would be interested in purchasing it.

Hallo Laurence, any chance to see a picture of the rear? to me it looks like the medals are:

1. not in any particular order at all,

2. and the Karl Troop Cross (number 5 from left as you look at the picture) seems to have the wrong ribbon.

3. For a bar that is predominantly Austrian, is it usual to have a III Reich Kriegsverdienst Cross first?.

4. The second last medal could be a Austrian Firebrigade service medal.

5. No Austrian Commemorative medal for WW1

6. No Bulgarian Commemorative medal for WW1.

This is what I notice, maybe some of the more experianced medal guru's could chuck their 5 cents worth in as well.

Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gentlemen of the Club,

Just noticed in the last couple of months the high prices the medals to veterans of the Irish Republican Army (Gentlemen of the 1916-1920 Fight for Independance and not to be confused with the Terrorist Organisation of today).

http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-1916-Combatants-...1QQcmdZViewItem

Up to 770 GB Pounds as I write. his pictures are a bit crap though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-UPRISING-1917-19...1QQcmdZViewItem

Up to 413 GB Pounds

http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-1939-1946-Emerge...1QQcmdZViewItem

This one by the same seller for two very common varieties of WW2 Ermergency Service Medals.
At 72 GB Pounds

http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-UPRISING-1917-19...1QQcmdZViewItem

This one is at 599 GB POUNDS (any inscription is done privately as they were issued plain.)

http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-1916-Combatants-...1QQcmdZViewItem

This one is up to 770 GB Pounds

Probably the most of these will end up in the USA


Kevin in Deva.

NIKITA HRUSHCHEV's document's on ebay for 14,000 usd and a 1000 percent genuine.....who would know

Hallo Order_of_victory

Now if they would just throw in the left shoe he was always banging on the podium at the U.N. it might just tempt me to bid

Kevin in Deva

Ok, I get the message . But for the mutual edification, what is it?

KR

Peter

Hallo Peter, sorry for the misunderstanding, its an Irish Infantry badge again from between 1930s and 1950s the word on the scroll is Cosithe meaning footsoldier.

Kevin in Deva.

Kevin, I should have dug deeper in that drawer of mine. What do you say, another Irishman?

KR

Peter

Errr, is that a trick question!!

Please, please, please with sugar on it

You can see where the others are for the moment

Kevin in Deva.

RE the fantasy "wound" badge.

In all seriousness, does it have any historical legitimacy at all? (it's too pretty not to) it would be interesting to learn when and why something like that was put together. I know, I'm naive.

I agree it is nicer that the real version

Biber

Maybe these were going to be the Aniversary-commemorative pieces for WINNING THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Kevin in Deva

Rarer - much rarer... and infinitely more valuable...

Keep sharp men - these could fool even the experts

http://cgi.ebay.com/Small-German-1813-Iron...1QQcmdZViewItem

Hallo Biro

the seller does state it was not "issued" but "made-up" shades of Trotters Trading

maybe made up means, in the five minutes before he posted the auction.

Nearly rates up there with the iii reich ss submarine badge i was offered many years ago in Bavaria (Home of the ss summarine pens on lake constance )

Kevin in Deva

Try this one on for size!

Its a very special wound award to Kaiserlicker Bumwipers who sustained facial injuries during the performance of their dutys on the royal personage and associated family members, so as the massed ranks would not get upset, the reciepiant was usualy awarded these in a dark ally in the dead of night with instructions to wear it inside the jacket.

Kevin in Deva.

I am a dead man if I cannot get the sale past the wife....

Gonna have to raise some urgent cash :-(

Hallo Chris (Dead Man Walking),

At least you get to die happy with a nice medal on your chest

Better buy the wife something quick as a peace offering

Kevin in Deva.

Saxe-Altenburg Tapferkeitsmedaille. Now to find an early-war bronze or coppered-zink one for the other case, and I'll have a nice set; the Hohenzollern piece will be evicted.

Hallo Ralph A,

Nice box and a nice medal.

I guessed wrong and I have one in my collection, must need new glasses

I attach picture of mine.

Kevin in Deva.

A stopwatch was my guess. But, no...

my guess an Austrian Franz Joseph early type Tapferkeit medal with fixed silver oval ribbon ring.

Kevin in Deva.

On the right side of the base is engraved the number 1264921 either a POW number or his military service number.

Hi Kev, looks like Arthur was in a Gebirgsj?ger unit he was taken to the American POW camp in Heilbronn (my father and was there as well as a POW) first then was transfered to a camp in France.

the # 1264921 I belive is a Feldpostnummer and was scratched in the mess tin before the POW-camp-art a common way to mark personal gear. Will check later tonight what unit carried that FPN.

All the Best Hardy

Hallo Hardy, Free beer for you for the quick reply and information course you gotta travel to Transylvania to get it

Have you any information with regards ULLR ?? I have a medal with this name on it depicting a man on skis with a cross-bow and on the rear an Edelweiss!! I was told its a Mountain Unit's unofficial medal?

Many thanks again.

Kevin in Deva.

more pictures of item:

[attachmentid=33794]

Hello all,

So the next time you see an impressive Fruit salad on a great and proud warrior, take the time to thank them and to admire the sacrifice they give each and every day to keep the world a free and wonderful place to live. Think of the fruit salad as our resume to the world as a silent reminder of what we do and where we go so you don't have to.

Thanks for letting me rant. Have a great and peaceful day.

Tony

"Support Search and Rescue...Get Lost!!!"

Hallo Tony,

I am in total agreement, no matter what or when or where or why, the job comes first and foremost, there will always be those who get their hands on ribbons, clasps, and medals for being in the right place at the right time, (unlike the combat grunts who are in the right place at the wrong time as the bullets are flying )

Kevin in Deva ( thats deep dark Transylvania, where after eight, Garlic necklaces are a must and not a fashion accessorie )

more pictures of item:

WW2 GERMAN FIELD EQUIPMENT:

PRISONER OF WAR (P.O.W.) MESS TIN, ART WORK.

MORE PHOTOS WILL BE ADDED IN REPLY'S.

Over the next few days I would like to post some of the field-equipment I have, including a couple of objects totaly altered from their original design, one of which that was used for something else in postwar Bavaria.

If any of the Gentlemen have any similar personalised items of German or Axis field-gear please feel free to add them here, If you have any Allied items please start a seperate post, as to prevent confusion.

Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gentlemen

while moving some stuff in my garage I came across a Russian rucksack full of German Field equipment that I had picked up at Fleamarkets while living in Kempten, in the Allg?u, Bavaria, you know the usual field-gear, which when tipped out onto the floor amounted to something like 10 waterbottles, 2 Affe field-packs, gasmask containers, 1 Rucksack 6 breadbags, all from differeant years and makes.

Among the mess-tins is the following item:

WW2 GERMAN FIELD EQUIPMENT:

PRISONER OF WAR (P.O.W.) MESS TIN, ART WORK.

This item is in my collection, it is outside my main collecting area of medals but nevertheless an interesting item, whereas thousands of items passed through the hands of the men and women in the Armed Forces on all sides during the WW2 conflict, what makes this piece unique is that it has been personalized by its owner.

The item started life as an ordinary Wehrmacht two-part Mess tin, its original colour being a dark green, with some of the original paint remains, on the handle of the lid, with an overspray of brown and black in camo. The rest of the mess-tin?s paint has been sanded down to the bare aluminum.

Starting with the lid, the words have been hammered with the point of a sharp object

?Heilbronn? 13. 5. 45

Arthur Sommer

?Voves? (Frankr.) 28. 6. 45. [Frankreich, German for France.]

Around the kidney shaped top of the tin is marked an intricate design of stylized ?s? and small semi-circles.

The Green-Brown-Black handle has the stamp H R E 42. on the outside, and the letter ?A? [for Arthur] scratched on the inside near the hinge.

The main body of the container as you look at it from the front has the word ?ULLR? in capital letters and a depiction of a bearded man on skis with a tree branch over the right shoulder, in the background are Christmas trees and mountains. This "ULLER" character turns up regularly with conection to Gebergsjager items, & 1930 Skiing competions.

In the center (covered by the handle of the mess-kit top) the inter-twined initials of A S.

To the right side ?Heimat der Berge? beneath this a Edelweiss flower,

And in a scroll the words ?Berg Heil.?

And under that the word ?Allg?u? (which is an area of Bavaria along the South-western border with Austria, leading down and around the German side of Lake Constance.

On the right side of the base is engraved the number 1264921 either a POW number or his military service number.

I dont know if it is possible to track his history by using the nimber maybe some of the Gentlemen could suggest something.

MORE PHOTOS WILL BE ADDED IN REPLY'S.

Over the next few days I would like to post some of the field-equipment I have, including a couple of objects totaly altered from their original design, one of which that was used for something else in postwar Bavaria.

If any of the Gentlemen have any similar personalised items of German or Axis field-gear please feel free to add them here, If you have any Allied items please start a seperate post, as to prevent confusion.

Kevin in Deva.

Ok guys,

With all this PLM talk that is going on..

AND ANOTHER PLM ON GERMAN EBAY.......

http://cgi.ebay.de/ORIGINALER-Pour-le-Meri...1QQcmdZViewItem

PLM'S BREEDING LIKE RABBITS. . . . USA EBAY.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pour-le-Merite-konvolu...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pour-Le-Merite-Blue-Ma...1QQcmdZViewItem

KEVIN IN DEVA