[Misc] O/T replacement or replica WW1 medals

[Cadiz Seagull]

My grandfather, Tom Judd, fought in the Battle of Mons and was awarded the 1914 Star https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1914_Star

Unfortunately this and his other medals have been lost.

Very much to my amazement I've just heard that I have been successful in the ballot for a place in the Nation's Thank You procession on 11th November this year, the 100th Anniversary of the end of the war. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bells-to-ring-out-and-10000-to-march-past-the-cenotaph-as-the-nation-says-thank-you. In fact two places, one for me and one for [MENTION=2095]Commander[/MENTION] his great grandson

I don't think I can apply for replacement medals for the ones that he was awarded but have been lost but I would like to buy either a genuine 1914 Star or maybe a replica that I can wear on that day.

Does anyone have any experience of buying genuine or replica medals? There are a number of supposedly genuine 1914 Stars on Ebay but how will I know if they are genuine?

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated. Would I be commiting any offence if I wore a genuine or replica medal on the day?

 

[Juan Albion]

Over here I believe it is an offence to wear medals as if they were yours. I think, though, that people wear them over their right breast instead, if they are family. May, of course, be different over there.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Over here I believe it is an offence to wear medals as if they were yours. I think, though, that people wear them over their right breast instead, if they are family. May, of course, be different over there.

This
My father wore his dad's medals, during the Gallipoli commemorations, a few years back in London, I went also.

 

[AmexRuislip]

My grandfather, Tom Judd, fought in the Battle of Mons and was awarded the 1914 Star https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1914_Star

Unfortunately this and his other medals have been lost.

Very much to my amazement I've just heard that I have been successful in the ballot for a place in the Nation's Thank You procession on 11th November this year, the 100th Anniversary of the end of the war. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bells-to-ring-out-and-10000-to-march-past-the-cenotaph-as-the-nation-says-thank-you. In fact two places, one for me and one for [MENTION=2095]Commander[/MENTION] his great grandson

I don't think I can apply for replacement medals for the ones that he was awarded but have been lost but I would like to buy either a genuine 1914 Star or maybe a replica that I can wear on that day.

Does anyone have any experience of buying genuine or replica medals? There are a number of supposedly genuine 1914 Stars on Ebay but how will I know if they are genuine? Plus I have never bought anything on Ebay before so I don't know how it works!
.

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated. Would I be commiting any offence if I wore a genuine or replica medal on the day?

Personally I wouldn't buy any sort of medals from Ebay, just the fact that going to be there in honour of your grandfather is enough respect to him



Perhaps this may help you.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...rvice-medals/#7-replacing-and-claiming-medals

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

Over here I believe it is an offence to wear medals as if they were yours. I think, though, that people wear them over their right breast instead, if they are family. May, of course, be different over there.

It says on the info sheet "Attendees may of course wear their or their ancestors’ medals if they wish."

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

I do have his Old Contemptible badge which I will definitely wear although I'm still considering a medal.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I've got my grandfather's WW1 medals and my Dad's medals from 33 years of Naval service from 35-68.

I had the ribbons replaced with Mess Dress in Bournemouth when I claimed the Arctic Star for my Dad.
01202 302846 They're very helpful.
https://www.messdress.com/

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Over here I believe it is an offence to wear medals as if they were yours. I think, though, that people wear them over their right breast instead, if they are family. May, of course, be different over there.

The next of kin may wear them on the right. I marched past the Cenotaph in with the Association of Wrens in Nov 2016, wearing my Dad's medals.

 

[cunning fergus]

My grandfather, Tom Judd, fought in the Battle of Mons and was awarded the 1914 Star https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1914_Star

Unfortunately this and his other medals have been lost.

Very much to my amazement I've just heard that I have been successful in the ballot for a place in the Nation's Thank You procession on 11th November this year, the 100th Anniversary of the end of the war. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bells-to-ring-out-and-10000-to-march-past-the-cenotaph-as-the-nation-says-thank-you. In fact two places, one for me and one for [MENTION=2095]Commander[/MENTION] his great grandson

I don't think I can apply for replacement medals for the ones that he was awarded but have been lost but I would like to buy either a genuine 1914 Star or maybe a replica that I can wear on that day.

Does anyone have any experience of buying genuine or replica medals? There are a number of supposedly genuine 1914 Stars on Ebay but how will I know if they are genuine?

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated. Would I be commiting any offence if I wore a genuine or replica medal on the day?

A mate of my (sadly now deceased) used to buy and sell WW1 medals, he would typically buy a set then investigate providence of the individual and then create a framed presentation, typically with pictures of the individual, regimental badge and copies of records of service etc. For collectors the final presentation was much more attractive and they would pay more than just the basic set.

If the individual was mentioned in dispatches then this would increase value even further, all this info is available from the National Archive. We took a masters in WW1 studies at Birmingham Uni in 2006, you could get free access to the whole archives plus access to various other universities with WW1 records. That was a privilege to be honest.

My advice would be to get to a militaria fair, you can get a variety of different quality of replicas, I wouldn’t buy an original for your purposes, the name of the recipient is engraved on the back. You can get the right look with a replica with an original ribbon. The original ribbon is amazing quality, it’s expensive but modern replicas don’t come close. Your call though, and good luck.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

. You can get the right look with a replica with an original ribbon. The original ribbon is amazing quality, it’s expensive but modern replicas don’t come close. Your call though, and good luck.

I dispute that. I have the 14-18 medal and the Mons Star and the ribbons were frayed slightly. They were churned out in their thousands.

 

[AmexRuislip]

The next of kin may wear them on the right. I marched past the Cenotaph in with the Association of Wrens in Nov 2016, wearing my Dad's medals.

What band was playing the music for your parade?

 

[The Rivet]

My grandfather, Tom Judd, fought in the Battle of Mons and was awarded the 1914 Star https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1914_Star

Unfortunately this and his other medals have been lost.

Very much to my amazement I've just heard that I have been successful in the ballot for a place in the Nation's Thank You procession on 11th November this year, the 100th Anniversary of the end of the war. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bells-to-ring-out-and-10000-to-march-past-the-cenotaph-as-the-nation-says-thank-you. In fact two places, one for me and one for [MENTION=2095]Commander[/MENTION] his great grandson

I don't think I can apply for replacement medals for the ones that he was awarded but have been lost but I would like to buy either a genuine 1914 Star or maybe a replica that I can wear on that day.

Does anyone have any experience of buying genuine or replica medals? There are a number of supposedly genuine 1914 Stars on Ebay but how will I know if they are genuine?

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated. Would I be commiting any offence if I wore a genuine or replica medal on the day?

Be proud, head up, chest out! Great what your doing. I have just lost my American Uncle 5 days ago. 94 and at Guam, became a Lieutenant in the US Navy. A military burial comes next. A grandfather fought in the Boer war and another in the RFC/RAF during WW1 (and after) and second cousins who died at Ypres. Brave, brave people all of them.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

What band was playing the music for your parade?

There were two or three bands. One on Horseguards, another one the other side of the Arch and then right by the Cenotaph. I honestly can't remember what they were playing when we did the eyes left. We were in column E so it took nearly 40 minutes for us to get to the Cenotaph.
There are large screens in the trees all down Whitehall, so we could see what was going on.
Then Prince of Wales took the salute when we got back to Horseguards.

 

[AmexRuislip]

There were two or three bands. One on Horseguards, another one the other side of the Arch and then right by the Cenotaph. I honestly can't remember what they were playing when we did the eyes left. We were in column E so it took nearly 40 minutes for us to get to the Cenotaph.
There are large screens in the trees all down Whitehall, so we could see what was going on.
Then Prince of Wales took the salute when we got back to Horseguards.

It's still a lump in the throat moment, taking part and watching these events live in London

 

[cunning fergus]

I dispute that. I have the 14-18 medal and the Mons Star and the ribbons were frayed slightly. They were churned out in their thousands.

Hmm, well let me be clear. If you are referring to the original ribbon on the original medal then I would agree, 100 years on and its going to have aged. That said if the medals have been well looked after then the ribbons can still have their original lustre, and wouldn’t need to be replaced.

At militaria fairs however, medal traders usually sell medal ribbon, and you can still get original ribbon off the reel. It’s amazing quality, quite how it was manufactured I don’t know but the alternative modern replica ribbon doesn’t come close. Check it out on google images.

Obviously the old original ribbon is more expensive, but not ridiculous, and it’s kind of like comparing a perfect natural wooden floor with a modern laminate.

Anyway, that’s what I meant.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Hmm, well let me be clear. If you are referring to the original ribbon on the original medal then I would agree, 100 years on and its going to have aged. That said if the medals have been well looked after then the ribbons can still have their original lustre, and wouldn’t need to be replaced.

At militaria fairs however, medal traders usually sell medal ribbon, and you can still get original ribbon off the reel. It’s amazing quality, quite how it was manufactured I don’t know but the alternative modern replica ribbon doesn’t come close. Check it out on google images.

Obviously the old original ribbon is more expensive, but not ridiculous, and it’s kind of like comparing a perfect natural wooden floor with a modern laminate.

Anyway, that’s what I meant.

I replaced the ribbons on my grandfathers medals from Mess Dress, as named above. I have both old and new.

 

[cunning fergus]

I replaced the ribbons on my grandfathers medals from Mess Dress, as named above. I have both old and new.

Fair enough, I think the original medal ribbon is referred to as “watered silk” which is how the ribbons have that shimmer when you move them.

The modern replica ribbon doesn’t have it so it looks cheap in comparison, as below

https://bigburymint.com/product/vic...MIqd7BiMnz3AIVQ7HtCh2JiwDeEAQYBSABEgI0OPD_BwE

Sounds like you don’t have a difference in yours.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Fair enough, I think the original medal ribbon is referred to as “watered silk” which is how the ribbons have that shimmer when you move them.

The modern replica ribbon doesn’t have it so it looks cheap in comparison, as below

https://bigburymint.com/product/vic...MIqd7BiMnz3AIVQ7HtCh2JiwDeEAQYBSABEgI0OPD_BwE

Sounds like you don’t have a difference in yours.

Mess Dress is a great place, and not expensive. They specialise in militaria. I wouldn't touch bigburymint with a barge pole.

 

[BigBod]

Personally I wouldn't buy a genuine one because that will have been awarded to someone else who you don't know. I would go the route of replica medals and be proud to wear them on the right. Enjoy the day. I know quite a few guys who wear replicas on parade for fear of losing their original ones. This is my fear and tempted to go the same route.

 

[Worthing exile]

Interesting thread that I am glad I read.
I have both Grandfathers' sets of medals (nothing special but most importantly they both survived their conflicts) and I have always planned to mount and display them in my house. Always wondered about changing the ribbons but the original ribbons although discoloured and worn were theirs so although they won't look as nice, my feeling is to leave them as is. What do people think?