My first really serious purchase for my medal collection to the 8th Foot/Liverpool Regiment was an IGS with a 1885-7 Burma clasp. I bought this medal back in early 2009, today I was able to add the soldiers Afghanistan 1878-80 medal to my collection, thus re-uniting what may well be his full service entitlement. Chuffed to bits.
Well done, Steve. That's a wonderful thing with named medals. A pleasure that has been denied to us by the penny-pinching government of 1945.
Rich Why segregate the Wilson Govt as penny pinchers - they have all been the same - because I live in Canada a chunk of my OAPension is cut - but too many immigrants to UK - who have not done a fingers worth of good for Britain - and have NO intention to DO anything - get zillions for just asking … Cheers
Tom, I not an admirer of Wilson but I think that we can blame Attlee for this one. Not only was he Prime Minister in 1945 - 46 but Minister for Defence also. The un-named medals policy couldn't have taken place without his agreement. Canada did name theirs, didn't they ?
Thanks Diane, Rich, Yes, very pleased to be able to achieve this. Makes you wonder how they became separated in the first place. Could be the old favourite of handing one medal to each surviving dependant on death. Anyway they are back together now.
No clues in where they turned up ? I wonder how long they've been apart ? It must be quite strange to hold them next to each other for the first time in goodness-knows how long.
Hi Rich, No clues at all, but the IGS has had the better time of it in terms of care and attention. The Afghan medal is quite pitted and has been worn through over-polishing. However, none of these instances detract from the re-unification. Steve
The Indian General Service Medal is a Calcutta Mint issue, so probably issued in country. The Afghan Medal has probably bounced around the bazaars a bit; in the te early days of the twenty first century war in Afghanistan, friends were picking medals like this up for a song as they were being sold as lumps of silver; weapons were far more valuable. That. of course, didn't last long.
Thanks for this info Phil. I picked up some WW2 Burmese awards in Scott's Bazaar in Rangoon when I was out there in 2008, we will have to wait and see what will happen with these particular items.
