greatbeanbags Posted 4 July , 2011 Share Posted 4 July , 2011 I have just been given a very heavy (possibly silver although not hall marked) medal showing 2 Boxers on the Obverse & what could be the RAF or an Airborne Force motif on the reverse. Measuring 45mm in diameter & 5mm thick the Obverse is inscribed under the Boxers with the name Phillips also Aldershot. The Reverse shows a crown on top of an inscribed circle PER ARDVA AD ASTRI. There is a Condor inside the circle with wing span extending across the whole diameter of the medal. Sorry if images not too clear. Any info appreciated........nice if WW1 era? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 4 July , 2011 Share Posted 4 July , 2011 The reverse side emblem is that of the Royal Air Force, and not airborne forces. The motto is Per Ardua ad Astra [though the U is often shown as a V for Latin reasons!] - through toil to the stars. I think the RAF refer to the bird as an eagle. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatbeanbags Posted 4 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 4 July , 2011 Thanks daggers....motto clarification appreciated....funny looking eagle.....head looks like a condor or even a vulture! Any thoughts on medal era & when issued? Would the RAF in WW1 have been using the same motto & emblem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 4 July , 2011 Share Posted 4 July , 2011 Sorry, can't help with the medal, but this site will tell you something about the badge: http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/theroyalairforcebadge.cfm The crown will have changed with the monarch from time to time. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 4 July , 2011 Share Posted 4 July , 2011 Thanks daggers....motto clarification appreciated....funny looking eagle.....head looks like a condor or even a vulture! Any thoughts on medal era & when issued? Would the RAF in WW1 have been using the same motto & emblem? Per Ardua ad Astra (Through struggle [or adversity] to the stars) was in use by the RFC in 1913. There were certainly no airborne forces in WW1 [although there was a plan under consideration to use converted HP bombers to land forces in the rear of the German lines in 1919] The closest any one had got were the French in late 1918 who were parachuting two man teams of saboteurs behind German lines to disrupt communications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 4 July , 2011 Share Posted 4 July , 2011 From the design I would suggest the medal dates from the 1930s~50s, HB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatbeanbags Posted 5 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 5 July , 2011 daggers.....thanks for link.....will try one of the Museums for more info. They may have info on the boxing figures & RAF tournaments etc. centurion....thanks for your observations & info. HarryBettsMCDCM.......your thoughts on dates are probably right. Any thoughts on Phillips? (probably medal maker) ..........Aldershot? (probably where medal made or Phillips had a shop)........will try to find out more when time allows! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 5 July , 2011 Share Posted 5 July , 2011 Phillips of Aldershot were well known medallists, producing all sorts of regimental sports and skill-at-arms medals. They had two shops one in Aldershot High Street (Jewellery and pawnbrokers) and one in Wellington Street (Sports goods & medals, silverware, cutlery,etc.) They closed down in the late 1950's. The final proprietor, the late Henry Phillips, was a noteable medal collector and some of his collection was displayed along one wall of the Wellington Street shop. The firm was established soon after Aldershot Camp was created in the 1850's. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatbeanbags Posted 6 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 6 July , 2011 Mike Fantastic.......you have done all the research for me on the medallist! Thanks so much. Clive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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