QSAMIKE

Simon....... Take some older of the plastic medal sleeves and cut the tops off and slide over each of the medals....... Mike

Looks like a Mark 1 (1942) Bren Gun Carrier to me....... Saw one for sale a while ago for $12,000.00 Cdn., running....... Mike

Hello Bernard...... Looks ok to me...... The unit is Scots Guards....... Should be a GDS Not a bad price for a Guards Brigade medal....... This medal would be Impressed Naming and not Engraved........ Mike

Everyone...... Here is the WW1 Chocolate Box....... Sorry don't have one myself...... Mike

Yes the Devons box is very very rare and hard to find........ And yet they have shown up on ebay...... Mike

Good Morning Paul That is a very subjective question....... There are prices for the two different sizes of boxes and then again if they contain the chocolate or not...... So you are looking at 8 different prices for good condition to excellent examples...... But I will try..... I have normally kept records only for full tins....... Mint to Excellent Condition / Complete with Contents - Cadbury - $381.00 US, April 2014 Excellent Condition / Complete with Contents - Cadbury - $363.00 US, February 2013 Excellent Condition / Complete with Contents - Rowntree - $724.00 US, May 2013 (Complete with several letters and cap badge) Very Good Condition / Complete with Contents - Rowntree - $220.00 US, November 2008 Good to Very Good Condition / Complete with Contents - Fry's - $236.00 US, December 2012 Empty Tin Very Good to Excellent - Large Size (92mm x 152mm x 22mm) Rowntree and Fry - $146.00 US 2011 / $226.00 US July 2014 Empty Tin Very Good to Excellent - Small Size (81mm x 158mm x 22mm) Cadbury - $92.00 US 2010 / $215.00 US 2014 There is also a book on the subject that shows up on ebay occasionally called: The Story of the Queen's Chocolate Tin by Lenaid Kebar, Copyright 1997 Mike

Queen Victoria's Chocolate Gifts for her Men at War In 1899, British soldiers and sailors were in South Africa, fighting the second Boer War1 which lasted from October, 1899 to May, 1902. Queen Victoria was concerned about the morale of her army and navy and wanted to do something to lift their spirits. She had heard that officers had gained much pleasure in receiving gifts from home so she decided she would send chocolate, a luxury item to the majority of people in those days. She would send chocolate to all of her army and navy serving in South Africa (including Australian contingents) as a Christmas/New Year gift in 1899/1900. Joining Forces The chocolate manufacturer, Cadbury, which since around 1854 had a Royal Warrant to supply Queen Victoria with cocoa and chocolate, was contacted and requested to produce the royal bars of chocolate, each in its own individual tin. This put Richard and George Cadbury in a dilemma because as Quakers they were pacifists and did not agree with the war. However, they did not want to refuse a request from the Queen. To prevent their confectionery rivals from accusing them of going against their principles, Richard and George's solution was to invite fellow Quakers, Joseph Storrs Fry 2 and Joseph Rowntree in a temporary three-way partnership to complete the order. The Tins Forty thousand tins, designed and made by Fry, were produced in two different sizes. The larger of the two tins is 15 x 9cm (6 x 3½ inches) and it has a gold-coloured rim around the edge of the lid; this contained two layers of chocolate. The slightly smaller or rather thinner tin, which measures 16 x 8cms (6¼ x 3¼ inches) has a blue rim around the edge of the lid, and contained one layer of chocolate. The design on the lid of both sizes is the same; in the middle of the red lid of the tin is a gold-coloured embossed picture of Queen Victoria's head. To the left is Queen Victoria's insignia, and to the right are the words South Africa 1900 and is inscribed 'I wish you a happy New Year' and signed 'Victoria' running along the bottom. It was decided, by all three companies, that the tins would carry no brand name. However, Queen Victoria was not amused about this decision; she wanted her army and navy to know that she was sending them quality British chocolate. As a compromise, the Cadbury name appeared on interior packaging of the chocolate. The tins remained unbranded. It can be assumed that the soldiers and sailors appreciated their gifts, some of which were saved, often complete with the chocolate bar as a souvenir, or as a gift for their mother, wife or girlfriend. Tin Full of Mementoes The empty tins had a more sombre use for the men who died in battle: the tins, containing their few personal belongings, were sent home to the fallen soldier's or sailor's family. The tins were not big enough to hold much, depending on which size the tin was used. They may have included items such as medals, talisman, coins, jewellery, photos, documents or letters and the soldier's identity disc, also known as a 'dog tag', which was first used in the Second Boer War. Collector's Item The tins have become collectable items. While some have been kept in the family, as treasured items, other are sold at boot sales, antique shops and fairs, and quite regularly on eBay. The monetary value of the tins is dependent on their general condition, and whether or not they contain the original chocolate. The smaller of the tins, with the blue rim around the tin, are said to be scarcer, and are therefore more valuable than the larger version. Some of the tins are displayed in museums, particularly those specialising in Second Boer War memorabilia. Mike

Thank You for the kind comments...... The medals I am looking for are few and far between now so the tins and other collectables are the things that keep this old boy happy LOL...... Mike

Good Morning Mervyn........ All three chocolate companies / families were Quakers and it was only at the personal request of Queen Victoria that the chocolate boxes and contents were made...... Mike

Yes it is the Cadbury...... They were the only one to use the wood shavings as a buffer and also put in a picture of the Queen but not in all tins....... I also have full Fry's and Rowntree's tins....... Just missed out in a full Scottish tin due to a computer glitch....... Mike

Thank you Gentlemen....... Have now identified all but Number 8....... The Para Wings are from Niger....... The only one unidentified now is Number 8..... Thanks Again...... Mike

Yes Jock, that is the original chocolate....... Mike

Good Afternoon Everyone....... Just a few pictures with regards to the other types of tins that were Christmas Presents to the Troops..... Only this time to The Boer War...... Had to add this after reading about the Princess Mary's Tin...... A friend has a large collection of these Princess Mary's Tins including and officially issued silver one..... Mike

Good Afternoon Everyone...... I have purchased a number of badges, French and I am looking for identification..... They are not in my field but just could not resist....... I know that item 8 is not French but maybe you know what it is????? Thanks in advance for any assistance...... Mike

Good Afternoon Everyone...... I have purchased a number of badges Dutch/Netherlands and French and I am looking for identification..... They are not in my field but just could not resist....... Thanks in advance...... Mike

Well my answer would still be the same...... For Badges WW1 and earlier Vol. 1 of Kipling and King, Vol. 2 is from end of WW1 to present..... and Naval and Military Press is your best source for all things British...... Mike

Good Morning Prussian....... There is no one book that can cover all you request....... The best book for cap badges though are Volume One and Two of Kipling and King....... Here is a link....... http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1300071334&searchurl=sortby%3D1%26an%3DKipling+and+King I also suggest you look at this website...... http://www.naval-military-press.com/ Best of Luck...... Mike

Good Morning Noor...... I think that by that crown it is Swedish...... Mike

There are Hallmarks on the pouch so you can get an exact date....... I think after 1843 but before 1901......... Mike P.S. Silver hallmarks can be found on line......

Good Morning...... "But without proof it's just another OBE. What value would something like this have." First of all this is a Knight Commander or possibly Commander as cannot judge size....... If Knight should have breast star as well...... Check out eBay or some of the on line archives from auction houses that are on line...... Mike

Good Morning...... It is Royal Army Service Corps..... Mike

Good Morning Chris...... Yes this and a rare QSA to the Irish Guards...... Mike

Thank You for your kind comments Gentlemen..... Mike

Good Morning Everyone...... For your viewing pleasure...... Came across a pair of very early challenge coins as used by the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry...... Serial numbered 173 and 174...... There was one sold on eBay a while ago numbered 7076 for $68.00...... They are about the size of a silver dollar and it weighs about the same..... It makes me wonder about the materials..... Surely not silver but if so a lesser quality of silver....... Mike

Good Morning and Thank You Tony....... We found one on Amazon which my friend is buying for me....... Mike