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Indeed, I don't doubt the enormity of the salary. For myself, just the shoulder boards would do! I believe Prince Philip is now Lord High Admiral of the Royal Navy - senior to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. I wonder what sort of salary that attracts. I would love to make a display of all three senior ranks, but am still working on the army Field Marshal bits. I haven't got a nice set of original metal ranks at the moment.

Here's a picture of the brooch pin with the Spink stamp upon it.

Indeed. It's almost impossible to buy any decoration of this level, and since it was instituted in 1970, nobody I know of has been awarded the BT. I wonder how many of these unissued pieces are in circulation.

Gents, I was able to photograph this specimen of a post-1996 Bintang Temasek, apparently of Spink & Son origin. Comments are most welcome. -alf

Gents, here is another, older example of a pair of shoulder boards for a Marshal of the Royal Air Force. These, unusually, do not have the royal cyphers on them, and there is no sign of them having ever been attached. I can't imagine why. These boards appear to have been used, but are not named.

Gents, Does anyone have pictures of what the rank for the Grand Marshal of Peru looks like? Please help! Thanks, alf

BIchay would be about right, I think. I have a Saudi para wing with a similar hallmark on the back which I know to have come from Bichay. -alf

Mervyn, I believe there are five gentlemen appointed to the rank of MRAF who are still alive today. One of them is Sir Peter Harding who resigned from the RAF in 1994, another is Prince Philip, who was appointed to the honorary rank in 1953. According to the tailor, he has not made new orders for this rank in the last twenty five years. The rank is also the most junior of the three services, following behind the Navy and then Army. Air Chief Marshal is the current rank of the service chief, which is a four-star rank. MRAF is a step higher, reserved for past service chiefs and royals, but was abolished in 1994. This rank was equivalent to the Admiral of the Fleet and Field Marshal. -alf

Thanks Mervyn. I got these in London. These are quite new, from a tailor, and I doubt anyone has worn them before. The rank is Marshal of the Royal Air Force, which is equivalent to a Field Marshal.

Does anyone have photographs of the King wearing such a rank? I have searched but have come up with nothing so far. Help would be greatly appreciated.

Gents, Here is a pair of original MRAF shoulder straps I'd like to share with you. Comments are most welcome. -alf

India has only one Marshal of the Indian Air Force, but there are many tailors and factories in India and Pakistan who can make these insignia. It is likely these collar tabs are 'original', just as any of the dozens of collar tabs made by that number of factories is original. Which is, to say, these collar tabs meet with government specifications and can be issued for wear. The only thing is, they were not worn by the Marshal himself. They would not be 'wasting time' faking the insignia, because they already make them on a day-to-day basis. It would be just a matter of making more of the same thing to sell to collectors.

I did make it to the Imperial War Museum, where I spent some time, as well as Camden Lock, although I did not buy anything there (I don't collect medals, you see.) Thank you, everyone, for your kind suggestions!

Thank you, everyone, for your kind suggestions. I made it to Patrice Reboul's shop and marveled at the display, and the prices too!

Gents, I would like to share these top three Nepalese Army general ranks with you. The Nepalese appear to have a number of super-general ranks held by one officer each, with some rather interesting symbols on the rank. Lieutenant General (according to the Nepalese Army website). Note the two crossed Kukri in the wreath. Chief of the Army Staff, or Pradhan Senapati, apparently a five-star rank equivalent to Field Marshal. Note the three crossed Kukri in the wreath. King of Nepal, or Pradhan Senadhipati, held by the Commander-in-Chief of Nepal, translated loosely as Grand General, and is equivalent to a six-star rank. This example was allegedly made for King Birendra, but I have no proof. The wreath has been moved down one more level to encircle an arrow crossed with a rifle, and there is some sort of yellow embroidery in yet another wreath of which I do not know the significance. Comments and additional information are most welcome. -Alf

Mervyn, I might have something coming my way from London, although I would rather not count the chickens before they hatch! I will certainly post a picture if it comes my way eventually. It was a nice experience actually being in the Gieves shop and talking with them about present-day ranks. It is a pity though, that the knowledge only goes so far back as one's memory - most of the older staff who would remember these details are gone. I did find some nice contemporary ranks in Rome, which I will try and post in the appropriate forum later.

Well, Gents, I think it is time to lay this topic to rest. I visited the Gieves military department in London last month and showed the boards to the director with my questions. He said that during the immediate post-war period, it was quite normal for officers to keep the bullion insignia on the boards and swap only the royal cyphers to save cost. Boards were expensive in those days, particularly for an Admiral of the Fleet, so it would have been done, and that there was nothing particularly unusual about this example. To add credence to the thought, on removing the EIIR cyphers, there is a lighter mark on the bullion, which says that the cyphers have been there quite a long time.

Okay Gents. It is confirmed to be a Mexican Naval Aviator badge. Thanks! - Alf

Thanks for the idea. I could not find pictures of the silver wing either, so I'm still open to what it might be.

Gents, I have with me two badges from Mexico that I need help to identify. One seems to be a gold parachute badge from the Mexican Navy. The other one in silver, also appears to be naval but I don't know what it is for. Can anyone help me out here please? Thanks, Alf

Gents, I am going to be in Paris next week on a non-working trip and might be able to pop into a few shops and military museums while I am there. Do you have any museums or insignia shops to recommend me? Please let me know, all ideas are appreciated.</p> Thanks! Alf

Gents, I may be going to Iceland in a couple of weeks on a non-working trip and might be able to pop into a few shops and military museums while I am there. Do you have any museums or insignia shops to recommend me? Please let me know, all ideas are appreciated. Thanks! Alf

Gents, I am going to be in London next week on a non-working trip and might be able to pop into a few shops and military museums while I am there. Do you have any museums or insignia shops to recommend me? Please let me know, all ideas are appreciated. Thanks! Alf

Anyone else have an inkling on these please?

Anyone, please?