Collecting Military Medals: A Beginner's GuideThe background to collecting military medals is inseparable from a study of history. The earliest British medals, as befits a nation for so long reliant upon naval strength for its independence, were issued to the Navy, beginning with the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The first true campaign medals awarded to the Army followed the Battle of Waterloo, although many had been issued privately and unofficially before this. As one would expect for a country like Britain, with an outstanding imperial history dating to modern times, a vast field of military medals covering service in Africa, India, and China awaits the attention of the collector. There are, too, the collections relating to major wars, including the Crimean War, Boer War and the two World Wars. Colin Narbeth describes the medals awarded, and the actions which gave rise to special bars, ribbons and stars. Orders and decorations, including the Victoria Cross and the George Cross, both awarded for extreme valor, are described as are the naming of medals and display. As well as this wealth of background information, the author also details the aims to which a new collector should aspire, and discusses the pitfalls to guard against, including the problem of identification of forgeries. The volume is illustrated with numerous photographs selected by the author. |
Contents
Chapter Page ཌ ཋ རྩྭ 8 སསྠཽ 8 ཉྫུ སྔེ ཚ རྞ | 11 |
IO NAMING OF MEDALS | 91 |
Appendices | 97 |
Glossary of Terms | 105 |
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Common terms and phrases
action Afghan April Army Ashanti August bar was issued bars awarded Bars Issued bars were awarded bars were issued battle Boer Britain British ships British troops bronze Burma campaign medals Capture China Chitral collection Crimea Medal Crimean War Cross Date on Medal December Decorations defeat Defence different bars Egypt engraved exergue famous February fighting fleet forces fought French George Cross Highlanders Indian General Service Inscription on Medal January Jubaland June Kabul Kandahar large number March Medal Bars medal collector Medal was awarded Medal was issued Medal with bars medals awarded medals were awarded medals were issued Military General Service Military Medal Naval Brigade Nigeria November number of medals obverse October officers Order Queen Victoria Queen's South Africa recipient regiment reverse shows ribbon Royal Navy seamen September Service Medal Sher Afzul Sikhs silver South Africa Medal Star Sudan three bars took Uganda warships Waterloo Medal West Africa West Africa Medal