Colonial Police LSGC

[rhkp]

Hello everyone! My name is Harold and I have been collecting Colonial police (particularly RHKP) memorabilia for around a year now. I have been looking for a colonial police LSGC issued to a Hong Kong police officer for a while now and I happened to come across this Colonial Police LSGC on a Hong Kong based facebook group. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the engraving was not standard....was this medal a late issue or is it not genuine?

 

[peter monahan]

Harold

Just wanted to say welcome to the GMIC. 

I'm afraid I have nothing to offer on the medal - a fairly obscure collecting area, if I may say so - but hope some of the membership will be able to help.  I did collect Indian Army medals at one point and can say that variations in the naming style with those often indicated a later issue or a second mint doing the work but rarely an outright fake.  For what it's worth. 

Peter

[Dave Wilkinson]

I can't comment on the style of naming, what I would caution is buying anything from a HK based seller. Take great care. There are many individuals who are "producing" no end of fake/altered items of memorabilia which purport to be from the pre.1997 disciplined services in HK.

 

Dave.

[rhkp]

7 hours ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

I can't comment on the style of naming, what I would caution is buying anything from a HK based seller. Take great care. There are many individuals who are "producing" no end of fake/altered items of memorabilia which purport to be from the pre.1997 disciplined services in HK.

 

Dave.

The fakes are everywhere because the mainland Chinese have developed a taste for colonial HK memorabilia, just search "RHKP" on taobao and you'll know what I mean  .

 

I'm probably pass on this medal because I saw a similar medal with the same style of engraving on a mainland Chinese website.  

14 hours ago, peter monahan said:

Harold

Just wanted to say welcome to the GMIC. 

I'm afraid I have nothing to offer on the medal - a fairly obscure collecting area, if I may say so - but hope some of the membership will be able to help.  I did collect Indian Army medals at one point and can say that variations in the naming style with those often indicated a later issue or a second mint doing the work but rarely an outright fake.  For what it's worth. 

Peter

 

Hello Peter

Thank you for the warm welcome

The only "other" type of engraving I have seen on Colonial Police medals (both the CPM and the LSGC) is the style I have attached in this reply, which still looks far more convincing than the style I saw on Facebook. 

Harold

Edited July 15, 2018 by rhkp
bad grammar

[Dave Wilkinson]

Having seen the engraving close up, I would say that this was not the work of the Royal Mint. You are wise to leave well alone.

Dave.

 

[peter monahan]

Clearly, other than the 'welcome', I should have stayed out of this one!  Showcased my ignorance nicely, didn't I? If I'd started by establishunbg that it is a Royal Mint issue, that would have informed my opinion considerably on the naming.  Opps!  

But you're still very welcome! 

 

[bigjarofwasps]

If anyone is interested, there's currently a Hong Kong Police Special Constabulary medal to an Insp on  eBay item number:

362778634564

[Dave Wilkinson]

In my opinion, total rubbish (the medal, that is).

Dave.

[bigjarofwasps]

7 minutes ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

In my opinion, total rubbish (the medal, that is).

Dave.

I’m inclined to agree with you Dave.

I assume this particular medal is locally engraved? 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I've never seen a Royal Mint produced medal with rounded edges, or with such "naff" engraving. Looks like a child has done it. In addition,  I'm fairly certain that the title "Inspector of Police" would not be used on an SC medal. If the medal itself is genuine, which is a possibility, its been seriously interfered with. The edge and rim looks as if its spent some time on a grinding wheel.

Dave.

[paul wood]

Harold,

My opinion for what it is worth. I suspect some one has found a cache of unissued  cased medals and has decided to sex them up. HK police are always in demand but I am afraid in my view the naming is about as genuine as Katie Price's cleavage. Certainly no comparison to the one Colonial police LSGC to a Sikh Inspector  in the Zanzibar Police I own

Best wishes and welcome

Paul

[1314]

Just a few observations - as regards the Special Constabulary medal, compare the engraving with that on the first medal in this theme, a scratchy ,crude affair. This is a local production and this style is commonly seen on medals to junior officers in the regular Force. The Specials medal is also wrongly ribboned  (CPM M).I have checked the June 1997 Staff List for the then RHKP Auxilliary Police ( as the specials were known).Subject does not appear. His name (Chang) would indicate a northern Chinese family (Shantung) origin, if so it is most likely he would have ended his service by 1997 .

[bigjarofwasps]

Recently discovered that back in 2012, a new effigy was released on the Colonial LSGC, 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia ... vice_Medal

“The medal is circular, silver and 36 mm (1.4 in) in diameter. The obverse depicts the effigy of the reigning sovereign surrounded by the royal titles. To date, there have been six types of obverse, the date in brackets showing the year the design was introduced”

 

Would be interested to see one, in anyone is able to provide if photograph? 

[bigjarofwasps]

Found this group to  Ch Insp Paul Chipolina, Royal Gibraltar Police.

 

(Note the 2012 effigy on the LSGC). 

Edited November 27, 2022 by bigjarofwasps

[bigjarofwasps]

Saw this example of the 2012 effigy version of the Special Constabulary colonial award. Thought it might be of interest? 

[Dave Wilkinson]

This group awarded to Douglas Fleuret shows the Colonial Police LS medal. It was gazetted on the 11th January 1956, so is I suspect the first version. The wording on the rim reads "Const. Douglas Fleuret Falkland Islands Police". 

 

During the period that this medal was awarded the Falkland Islands Police consisted of a Chief Constable, a Sergeant and three Constables. Fleuret's force number was 2. Probably the smallest of the Colonial Police Forces. Long service medals to this force are exceptionally rare. The men seldom stayed long enough to earn a medal.

 

Dave. 

[Cerrig-Man]

On 12/10/2022 at 09:38, bigjarofwasps said:

Found this group to  Ch Insp Paul Chipolina, Royal Gibraltar Police.

 

(Note the 2012 effigy on the LSGC). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Cerrig-Man said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Cerrig-Man said:

 

 

Where are colonial police medals minted? If  not by the Royal Mint, could we potentially see colonial medals bearing the King, before we see them issued in the UK? 

[Dave Wilkinson]

22 minutes ago, Cerrig-Man said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where are colonial police medals minted? If  not by the Royal Mint, could we potentially see colonial medals bearing the King, before we see them issued in the UK? 

As far as I'm aware they are produced in the UK. Unless the procedure has changed, the award is approved by the Governor of the Overseas Territory who then, via the Crown Agents, places an order for the medal with whoever holds the current contract. All the costs involved are met by the Government of the relevant Overseas Territory.

 

Dave. 

Edited May 13, 2023 by Dave Wilkinson

[bigjarofwasps]

New C111R version.

 

 

(Note the E11R box)

 

 

Royal Gibraltar Police.