I have a friend, (Honest!!), he has some medals, he purchased off Flea Bay quite some time ago, and now wishes to sell them. They are WW2, however, I understand there are many fakes out there, as they are now on the “Hot list” as collectable items, and as such, many fakes are on the Market.
Has anyone any idea as to what to look for, to tell if they are genuine, or repro/fakes?.Has anyone been “Stung” by buying fakes?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: kev35 - 20th October 2013 at 10:10
Hi Warren.
First off I’d check ancestry for any mention of Bloxham. Get his MIC first which will give you a date of entry to France and Flanders. Soldiers find should give you both a home town and place of enlistment. That might help you establish a family connection.
Hope this helps.
By: Creaking Door - 18th October 2013 at 13:26
It should be remembered that Great War campaign medals were issued named…
Talking of names being engraved into the edges of medals reminded me of this medal that I inherited a few years ago.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]222061[/ATTACH]
It is engraved: 14580 PTE T.W.BLOXHAM R.BERKS.R
Which is all pretty self explanatory except for one great mystery; I have no idea who Private Bloxham was. Bloxham is not a family name on either side of my family and I cannot think of any relationship by marriage either.
My grandfather fought in the First World War, in the Royal Horse Artillery, and served at Gallipoli and on the Somme and there were some old family photographs, taken between the wars, showing him with a man who had lost an arm. I had assumed that this was former Private Bloxham but when I did an internet search today I made a shocking discovery.
Private Thomas William Bloxham 14580 of the Royal Berkshire Regiment was killed on the 25th September 1915 during the Battle-of-Loos. (So this medal must have been awarded to next-of-kin.)
I have found another website about the Battle-of-Loos that commemorates Private Bloxham (who has no known grave) and that seems to suggest that he was from Coventry. I know Coventry extremely well (having been born in Rugby) but I still cannot think of any family connection.
Where do I go from here?
By: charliehunt - 15th October 2013 at 11:51
That’s mah boy!!:eagerness:
By: Lincoln 7 - 15th October 2013 at 11:34
😀 Just for U Chas!!
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: charliehunt - 15th October 2013 at 11:17
🙂
By: Lincoln 7 - 15th October 2013 at 10:01
Twill be posted when I get to know.:)
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: charliehunt - 15th October 2013 at 09:54
Of course Linc – just interesting when you do find out.:)
By: Lincoln 7 - 15th October 2013 at 08:39
I havn’t seen him yet, I had arranged to see him yesterday, but he had forgotten to tell me he had a Hospital appointment.
Ahh, old age, memory, catches up with all of us Chas.But I don’t wish to “Pester” him unduly.
I feel sorry for the old chap.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: charliehunt - 15th October 2013 at 05:25
Linc – you haven’t’ told us which medals your friend has.
By: Lincoln 7 - 14th October 2013 at 22:10
Thanks Bob, will do. 🙂
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Bob - 14th October 2013 at 21:27
Have a look over on the British Medal Forum – http://www.britishmedalforum.com/index.php
You might get some pointers as to what to look for?
By: Lincoln 7 - 14th October 2013 at 20:11
Plus 1 Kev.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: charliehunt - 14th October 2013 at 19:58
Thank you for those thoughts anyway, Kev.
By: kev35 - 14th October 2013 at 19:23
I’m afraid to disappoint but I really don’t know the answer to that one. I can only imagine it was a matter of time, expediency and money. As regards basic values for Second World War campaign medals try looking up a company called Southern Medals.
To me, the whole issue of the awarding of campaign medals has been contentious and clumsily mismanaged (a bit like my mangling of the English Language) at best. At worst I suspect political considerations have been given far more importance than the simple act of granting recognition to those who placed duty to their Country ahead of thoughts of and for themselves.
Regards,
kev35
By: Lincoln 7 - 14th October 2013 at 14:55
Kevs the expert on that sort of thing Chas. I am sure will be able to answer that very interesting question.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: charliehunt - 13th October 2013 at 21:15
How interesting, Kev, I didn’t’ know that. Do you know the reason for the decision?
By: kev35 - 13th October 2013 at 21:03
Value varies, strangely enough, with factors such as name, whether they were a fatality and the Regiment in which they served. It should be remembered that Great War campaign medals were issued named, those for the next great unpleasantness were issued unnamed.
regards,
kev35
By: charliehunt - 13th October 2013 at 20:32
Are campaign medals from WW1 more valuable simply because so many will have disappeared over the years? Or are they still relatively common?
By: snafu - 13th October 2013 at 20:08
As far as campaign medals go, I believe that its those to aircrew that are most valued since there were relatively fewer of them. Medals for gallantry are probably easier to confirm as being genuine since there will be a paper trail.
Either way don’t go for the ones where the outer peals away to reveal chocolate…;o)
By: Lincoln 7 - 13th October 2013 at 16:37
Kev. I have to visit him in the Morrow, and will find out exactly what he has, and get back to you.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
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October 12, 2013 at 10:43 pm