Two Victoria Cross Miniature Medal Groups For Identification

[Mark Jackson]

Greetings. I am brand new to this forum. I have recently purchased two Victoria Cross Miniature Medal Groups and would love to find out who the recipients are. Is anyone able to help me?

 

Thanks, Mark.

[Gordon Craig]

Mark,

An almost impossible task.  There are a fair number of these miniatures up for sale these days.  They can not all be originals.  I don't have the time to look at your bars to see if they make sense, at least not right now. You might have some luck by looking at the medal roles for the KSA and the QSA.  My research indicates that there were only 78 VCs awarded during the Second Boer War.  Since both bars indicate WWI service of some kind so perhaps they are post Second Boer War awards.  At least, you might be able to eliminate those awarded during the Second Boer War.  A good place to start though.

Good luck in your search.

Regards,

Gordon  

[Mark Jackson]

Hi Gordon. Thank you thus far. The fellow that I bought them from is in his 80s and has owned them for over 30 years so they probably are right and the medals are for sure the old miniatures not newer ones. In hand you can see that they have been together for decades so I think that is very good. 

 

I was hoping that it might be an easier task on the group of 10 as it also has a DSO and the British South Africa Company Rhodesia 1896 medal. The group of 7 has an Edward VII DCM which I think also narrows things down a little as I know that this would have been the fewest awarded.

 

Any more help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks, Mark.  

The group of 10 medals are as follows:

 

1. Victoria Cross
2. DSO - Distinguished Service Order with "GR" cypher. (no V / VI / VII on it)
3. British South Africa Company Medal with Rhodesia 1896
4. Queens Sudan Medal.
5. QSA with bars for South Africa 1901 / South Africa 1902 / Wittebergen / Cape Colony
6. Africa General Service Medal with Somaliland 1902-04 bar.
7. Edward VII Natal Rebellion Medal with 1906 bar.
8. WW1 War Medal.
9. WW1 Victory Medal with MID device
10.Khedive's Sudan medal 

The group of 7 medals is as follows:

 

1. Victoria Cross
2. DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medal Edward VII version.
3. QSA with bars for "Transvaal / Orange Free State / Cape Colony
4. KSA with bars for "South Africa 1901 / South Africa 1902".
5. Edward VII Tibet Medal with clasp for "Gyantse".
6. WW1 War Medal.
7. WW1 Victory Medal.

[Gordon Craig]

Mark,

I have given you all the help that I have time for.  Time is money and my time is spent on my own collection which is under constant research.  Good luck in your search for the possible previous owner of these miniature medal bars.

Regards,

Gordon

[Mark Jackson]

Thank you Gordon. Your responses are appreciated, Mark.

[Wat05]

I am currently checking every VC recipient, and looking for possible candidates. It’s quite a fun challenge. I should be able to have some answers by tonight!

[Gordon Craig]

Looking forward to an answer.  A mind boggling task for sure.

Regards,

Gordon

[Farkas]

On 04/11/2024 at 13:16, Gordon Craig said:

Mark,

I have given you all the help that I have time for.  Time is money and my time is spent on my own collection which is under constant research.  Good luck in your search for the possible previous owner of these miniature medal bars.

Regards,

Gordon

I’ve pretty much given up researching names on my stuff, it’s mind boggling just thinking about it.
I’m trying for now to identify things.

I can get my head round that task better than I currently can researching all the names…

Good luck with your hunt Mark 👍

They are lovely things already.

tony 🍻

 

 

Edited December 3 by Farkas
Edit.

[Wat05]

I have searched through each VC Recipient and came down to 5 Recipients, but I think they are not likely to be the holders of these miniature sets. Through an elimination process, I came to 5. They are:

 

1. John Collins VC, DCM. 
 

2. Edgar Thomas Inkson VC, DCO.

 

3. Paul Aloysius Kenna VC, DCO.

 

4. Robert George Scott VC, DCO.

 

5. John Woods Whittle VC, DCM.

 

These results showed that both DCMs received the 1914-15 Star, therefore not the holders of these medals. On the other hand, I can’t find any photos of the VC and DCO Recipients. I might try it out again, and double check each name.

[Gordon Craig]

Wat05,

Unfortunately, what happens when this type of search takes place.  Unless a VC ribbon bar comes with some sort of attribution there is little hope of proving it is authentic by researching it.  Here is a listing from Noonans auction that ends tomorrow.  It, at least, was put together as a representative bar and that is stated in the sale.

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Live Online Auction

More Information

 

 

 

 

 

Lot

№ 683 x

.

To be sold on: 5 December 2024

Estimate: £80–£100

Place Bid

Remove from Cabinet

Save to your Lists

Description

The mounted group of seven miniature dress medals representative of those worn by Private G. Stringer, Manchester Regiment

Victoria Cross; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Serbia, Kingdom, Bravery Medal, gold, mounted for wear, gilding rubbed on last, good very fine (7) £80-£100

Footnote

V.C. London Gazette 5 August 1916:
‘For most conspicuous bravery and determination. After the capture of an enemy position, he was posted on the extreme right of the Battalion in order to guard against any hostile attack. His battalion was subsequently forced back by an enemy counter-attack, but Private Stringer held his ground single-handed and kept back the enemy till all his hand-grenades were expended. His very gallant stand saved the flank of his battalion and rendered a steady withdrawal possible.’

Serbian Medal for Bravery in Gold London Gazette 15 February 1917.

George Stringer was born in Manchester on 24 July 1889 and joined the Lancashire Fusilier Volunteers in 1905. Just prior to the Great War he attested for the Manchester Regiment and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War, initially on the Western Front from 21 July 1915, before proceeding to Mesopotamia in January 1916. For his gallantry during the Battle of Es Sinn on 8 March 1916, as part of he effort to relieve the besieged garrison at Kut-el-Amara, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Subsequently Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 19 October 1916) and awarded the Serbian Medal for Bravery in Gold, he was later wounded and developed enteric fever. He returned to the U.K. in June 1917 and was discharged a a result of his wounds. He died in Oldham on 22 November 1957.

Stringer’s Victoria Cross and other medals are in the collection of the Museum of the Manchester Regiment.

Sold with a Manchester Regiment cap badge, metal unit title, and a photographic image of the recipient.

 

Regards,

Gordon

 

[Wat05]

It is a sad shame that it is extremely difficult to find research for VC miniatures.