Japan, in an attempt to control black market activity as well as prices in the conquered territories in S.E.Asia, produced Occupation Script in various denominations and currencies. This is one of the notes produced for Burma. There was also a one and ten rupee note.
This medal was instituted on 5 May 1946 and bestowed on some 3,100 persons who had rendered special services to Denmark during the German occupation. This particular example is marked to the surname Reynolds on the inside of the case. When I look this up in the Danish “Hof-og Statskalender” the only Reynolds awarded this medal is Squadron Leader Reggie Reynolds CO of 139 Squadron RAF flying Mosquitos.
Flying with his long time navigator Sismore on October 31 1944 Reynolds led a force of 24 Mosquitos in a raid on the Gestapo headquarters lodged in the buildings of Aarhus University in Denmark. The surprise attack, in misty weather, was delivered from low level and was a complete success. The head of the SS was killed, one of his officers writing: “A terrible disaster happened when our HQ was shot up by English airmen.” For their outstanding leadership, both Reynolds and Sismore received a Bar to their DFCs.
First up a photo of Sismore (left) and Reynolds (right) in front of a Mosquito aircraft.
This is a group from my family consisting of the Kings South Africa Medal with South Africa 1901 Bar and South Africa 1902 Bar and the Queens South Africa Medal with Transvaal Bar and Orange Free State Bar and Cape Colony Bar. It is marked to 3573 W. Birchell RL: Berks Reg.
This is one of a series of faux chamber pots put out by Fieldings of Staffordshire, England early in 1939 to take advantage of the, then recent, “Violation of Poland” by Hitler’s armies. It is tiny in size, less than 5cm in diameter. On the front it says ‘Flip Your Ashes On Old Nasty” and “The Violation of Poland”. On the rear it says “Jerry No1”. Inside is a cartoon image of Hitler, probably by David Low, a prominent political cartoonist of the period. The design is by the outstanding designer Enoch Boulton.
This is yet another commemorative issued by the Communist government of Romania. It seems that all the Warsaw Pact countries continued to stamp out these medals at regular intervals. Perhaps to rub it into the West that they had played a large part in Germany’s defeat. As a side note, since the Romanians spent most of the war under the Axis perhaps this medal could also be described as commemorating 20 years of subjugation by the Communists?
The Type 2 Loyal Service medal was awarded from 1932 to 1947. It was awarded in three classes. Class I was made in silver gilt, class II in silver, and class III in bronze. Beginning in 1937, the type 2 medal could also be awarded with swords to members of the military.
This example has the yellow bands to the ribbon on the edge indicating it was awarded during a time of war which puts it square into WW2.
The Obverse reads “Serviciu Credincios” (Translation: Loyal Service), surrounded with a wreath of laurel and oak leaves.
In all there were 8 variations of the medal.
This medal is a post-Communist Romanian commemorative medal issued to all those who served in the Romanian Armed Forces during WW2. This medal actually similar in design to that produced after the First World War and is obviously intended to mimic it.
This medal was instituted by Royal Decree No. 1014 of April 1, 1942 and was awarded to military personelirrespective of rank as well as civilians who had distinguished themselves in the battles on the Eastern front. The medal could be awarded without bars, but the following bars were authorized: BUCOVINA, BASARABIA, DOBROGEA, NISTRU, ODESSA, BUG, NIPRU, AZOV, CREMEEA, DONET, MAREA NEAGARA.
The medal is dated 1941, and it was awarded through 1944. After 1944, Romania was occupied by the Soviets, and this award became obsolete. In fact if would have been very unhealthy to be found with this medal under the Communist regime that followed the War.
This is a post-war commemorative medal from the Communist Romanian People’s Republic. The writing roughly translates as in the title of the post. Undoubtedly stamped out by the million.This medal was awarded in 1949 by the Communist Government to soldiers and civilians who participated in the ‘struggle’ against the Germans in World War II. While Romania was allied with Germany during most of the war, King Michael overthrew Marshal Antonescu (the defacto ruler of Romania) in 1945 and turned Romania’s forces against their former allies. Because there is also a medal awarded by Romania for fighting against Communism (see Crusade against Communism Medal), it is conceivable that some soldiers received both awards.
The medal is suspended by the distinctive communist tri-fold ribbon, and has four red and three white stripes in alternating fashion. The medallion depicts the bust of two soldiers, one Romanian and the other Soviet, side by side. The busts are encircled by the words; “ELIBEREA DE SUB JUGUL FACISTl” translation: Liberation from fascist subjugation.
The reverse is comprised of a laurel wreath surmounted by the letters RPR encircling the words, “IN SLUJBA POPORULUI MUNCITOR”. translation: “Workng for the working people”.
This is the Faithful Service Medal issued under King Carol of Romania. This is the second class type without swords so it would be issued for non-war service, for example civil servants, postmasters, policemen and so on. It also has the non-warlike ribbon without the yellow edge stripes.
This is my stock France and Germany Star, in this case only notable for the additional Atlantic Bar.
The France and Germany Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.
The medal was awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany from 6 June 1944 (D-Day) to 8 May 1945. The qualifying sea area is the North Sea south of a line from the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand (South), in the English Channel and in the Bay of Biscay east of longitude 6° west, provided such service was directly in support of land operations in France, Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany.
British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Atlantic Star nor the Air Crew Europe Star would be awarded to a recipient of the France and Germany Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Atlantic Star was denoted by the award of the Atlantic clasp. A clasp for the Air Crew Europe Star was not issued as that Star could not be earned after 5 June 1944.
Army personnel who entered Austria may not qualify for this award, as their service is recognised by the grant of the Italy Star.
I have three examples of this medal. The first is impressed to 313971 M.L. Schultz, the second to 156658 B.S. Tinderholm (I have his War Medal also) and the third to 572811 J.Daitsh.
The Africa Service Medal was a South African campaign medal for service in World War II. It was instituted by King George VI, in his capacity as South African head of state, on 23 December 1943, and was awarded in addition to the British stars and medals issued for the war. The medal was granted to members of the Union Defence Forces, the South African Police, and the South African Railways Police.
To qualify for the medal, a member of those services must have volunteered for war service outside South Africa, and have served continuously for thirty days, or part-time for a total of eighteen hours, between 6 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. As the name indicates, the medal was originally intended for service in Africa, up to the defeat of the Axis forces in North Africa 1943, but it was later extended to cover service anywhere in the world, right up to the end of the war.
The medal is silver. The design was suggested by Field Marshal J.C. Smuts.
The obverse depicts a map of Africa, surrounded by the name of the medal in English, Africa Service Medal and Afrikaans, Afrikadiens-medalje. The reverse depicts a springbok prancing through the veld.
The ribbon is orange-red (the colour of the shoulder flash worn by South African volunteers), edged in green and gold (the “springbok” sporting colours, which were adopted as the defence force colours).
World War II ex-servicemen referred to the ribbon of this medal as “Ouma’s Garter”. “Ouma” (i.e. “Granny”) Smuts was the wife of the South African World War II prime minister, Field Marshal Jan Smuts. The nickname was a tribute to her unstinting efforts to supply the South African troops with home comforts.
On 16 May 1938, the British government set out the objectives of the Women’s Voluntary Service for Civil Defence. It was seen “as the enrolment of women for Air Raid Precaution Services of Local Authorities, to help to bring home to every household what air attack may mean, and to make known to every household [in the country] what it can do to protect itself and the community.”
In the words of the then Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, “as regards their civil defence functions, the Minister regards the Women’s Voluntary Service as occupying … much the same relationship as that of the women’s auxiliary services for the armed forces of the Crown.”
This medal was issued for 40 years of service to this organization.
This medal is identical to my other British cupro-nickel War Medals with the exception of the mentioned in dispatches device which is affixed correctly to the ribbon. The nickel medals were issued to British and other Commonwealth troops with the exception of the Canadians who received a silver one.
The Africa Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.
The Star was awarded for a minimum one day service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943.
The whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar is included, together with Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, Sudan, The Solmalilands and Eritrea. The areas not bordering the Mediterranean only qualified for the Africa Star from 10 June 1940 to 27 November 1941.
Members of the Australian Imperial Force qualified for the Star for service in Syria from 8 June 1941 and 11 July 1941.
The example pictured includes the North Africa 1942-43 bar.
Regulations only allow one clasp to be worn with the Star, being the first clasp the recipient qualified for.
The example here is one with a 1st Army bar.
This example of the Africa Star has an additional 8th Army bar attached. See above for other examples. I have a few more Africa Stars, in groups mostly and a single without any bar.
This is one of my favourite of the stars from WW2. This is because it is part of my grandfathers entitlement as he fought in the Solomon Islands against the Japanese.
The medal was awarded for operational service in the Pacific Theater between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, and also for certain specified service in China, Hong-Kong, Malaya and Sumatra:
Hong Kong – between 8 December 1941 and 25 December 1941
China and Malaya – between 8 December 1941 and 15 February 1942
Sumatra – between 8 December 1941 and 23 March 1942
Second World War service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra after the above end dates was recognised by the award of the Burma Star.
The qualifying sea areas for the award of the Pacific Star are the Pacific Ocean (including the South China Sea) and the Indian Ocean east of a line running due south from Singapore round the South-East coast of Sumatra, through Christmas Island, and southwards along the meridian of 110 deg East.
The Pacific Star was authorized for immediate bestowal to any soldier or sailor who had been killed or wounded in combat.
British uniform regulations stipulated that Burma Star would not be awarded to a recipient of the Pacific Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Burma Star was denoted by the award of the Burma Star clasp.
The King’s medal was issued in two versions: The King’s Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom and the King’s Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom. Both medals were silver and 36 millimetres in diameter.
The King’s Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom was introduced on 23 August 1945, to mark the acts of courage by foreign civilians in the furtherance of the British Commonwealth in the Allied cause. It was primarily intended to reward those foreign civilians who had assisted British escapees in enemy occupied territory. The medal’s obverse has the crowned profile of King George VI, with the text “The King’s Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom” on the reverse. The medal’s ribbon was white with two narrow blue stripes in the centre and two broad red stripes at the ribbon’s edges.
There are a number of fakes of this medal in circulation, all cast from the same original. Look for an edge bruise at 5:30 on the medal and avoid if you see it.
My example came with some Free French membership badges which were numbered, offering me an opportunity to research and discover the recipient. Excellent.
The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.
In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea.
It is sometimes described as the “Victory Medal” for World War II, although that is not its correct name. Generally these things are unnamed but I have a one orphan that is named.
For those of you hunting down sets it is as follows, 1220764 N.K. Mohd AJAIB.
I otherwise have a trunkful of these.
The 1939–45 Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in the Second World War. The medal was awarded for operational service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.
Army personnel had to complete 6 months service in an operational command. Airborne troops qualified if they had participated in any airborne operations and had completed 2 months service in a fully operational unit.
Air Force personnel had to participate in operations against the enemy providing that 2 months service had been completed in an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel had to complete 6 months service in an area of (overseas) operational army command.
Naval personnel qualified if they completed 6 months service, and at least 1 voyage was made through an operational area.
Royal Observer Corps personnel for service of 1080 days.
There were a number of “Qualifying Special Areas” where operational service for “one day or part thereof” qualified for the special award of the 1939–45 Star. These were actions for which a more specific campaign medal was not issued. Examples are: France or Belgium: 10 May to 19 June 1940, St.Nazaire 22-28 March1942, Dieppe: 19 August 1942, Iraq: 10 April to 25 May 1941 and Burma (Enemy Invasion): 22 February 1942 to 15 May 1942.[1] The star was immediately awarded if the service period was terminated by death, disability or wounding. The award of a gallantry medal or a Mention in Despatches also led to an immediate award.
I have a few of these medals.
The Burma Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.
The medal was awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. This medal was also awarded for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra:
British uniform regulations stipulated that the Pacific Star would not be awarded to a prior recipient of the Burma Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Pacific Star was denoted by the award of the Pacific clasp.
The 1914-15 Star was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.
The 1914-15 Star was approved in 1918, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of the War between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915 (other than those who had already qualified for the 1914 Star).
Recipients of this medal also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Some 2,366,000 were issued, including: 283,500 to the Royal Navy & 71,150 to Canadians.
I have a few of these in groups but also one orphan, 9078 Spr. L.Edmunds R.E.
Here is one of my family groups, the earliest one I have, comprising the Crimean War Campaign medal with the Sevastopol Bar impressed to J.Birchall, 56th Regiment. The accompanying Turkish Crimean Medal is a Sardinian example and is unnamed.
The Crimea Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of British units (land and naval) which fought in the Crimean War of 1854-56 against Russia.
The medal is notable for its extremely ornate clasps, being in the form of an oak leaf with an acorn at each extremity, a style never again used on a British medal. The suspension is an ornate floriated swivelling suspender, again unique to the Crimea Medal.
Five bars were authorised, the maximum awarded to one man was four. The medal was issued without a clasp to those who were present in the Crimea, but not present at any of the qualifying actions. A five bar specimen is held in the Royal Collection.
This medal was also presented to certain members of allied French forces. These medals, in addition to the five British clasps, were often issued with unauthorised French bars; Traktir, Tchernaia, Mer d’Azoff, and Malakof.
The medal was awarded with the British version of the Turkish Crimean War medal, but when a consignment of these were lost at sea some troops were issued with the Sardinian version instead.
This medal was awarded for one month’s full time service or six months’ part time service in any of the Armed Services, the Reserve or Home Guard between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. This medal was the first distinctively ‘New Zealand’ campaign medal, which was emphasised by the use of the fern leaf motif on the reverse and the national colours of black and white in the ribbon.
The New Zealand War Service Medal was issued unengraved, as were other Second World War campaign medals awarded for service for New Zealand.
Being a New Zealander I am especially fond of this medal. My grandfathers medal bar contains one as does the one belonging to the Grand-Uncle that I am named after. I have two examples of this medal.
Kiwi Medals 