Moonraker Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 I've just started watching the 1972-74 TV series "Colditz" on YouTube. In the fourth episode, Lt Col John Preston, a new Senior British Officer, arrives and is immediately met with scepticism and suspicion by the other British officers. His spick-and-span appearance does not help and he appears to be emotionless and rigid. There are some snobbish remarks about his being a Territorial. As he unbuttons his greatcoat after getting out of his transport, the camera focuses on his WWI medal ribbons which seem impressive: What medals do the ribbons represent? I would have thought that on first sight they would have earned him some credit and respect from the junior officers. I do, of course, appreciate that this was TV and dramatic tensions had to be introduced. (The characters are fictional, but some have similarities with actual PoWs.) Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob B Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 Well going left to right we have the British war medal, Victory medal followed by what looks to be a Military Cross which is in the wrong place (should be at the front) and finally a territorial decoration for 12 years service.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 2 minutes ago, Rob B said: Well going left to right we have the British war medal, Victory medal followed by what looks to be a Military Cross which is in the wrong place (should be at the front) and finally a territorial decoration for 12 years service.. Perhaps they were right to be suspicious if his medal ribbons were in the wrong order? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 They, the producers and actors, would surely know the right order, considering their generation and presumed war service/national service. Anyway, it doesn’t look like an MC in the attached (which is from here http://watchesinmovies.info/tv/colditz-1972-1974/) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob B Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 Thanks, that picture sorts out one of my concerns the third medal is not an MC, but a 1937 Coronation medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 Is the post on the watches forum by 'our' biffo I wonder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 4 hours ago, Moonraker said: There are some snobbish remarks about his being a Territorial. Moonraker Obviously a Rotter and a Cad. Probably wore brown shoes in Town. 2 hours ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said: Is the post on the watches forum by 'our' biffo I wonder? You think there might be more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 I seem to remember this officer occasionally spoke about his Great War service in the trenches. Watch out for clues- I think the trick to daytime television is to stay awake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 Anyone want to have a go at the medal ribbons for Major General Clive Wynne-Candy while we are at it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 (edited) Here he is (image from here https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-06/the-life-and-death-of-colonel-blimp/8421028) Edited 18 August , 2019 by Uncle George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 Hmm-Appears to be merely a Colonel in the Home Guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 Well, obviously VC, QSA, KSA and a GW trio for starters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 As a Brigadier General then (Image from here https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/the-life-and-death-of-colonel-blimp) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 18 August , 2019 Author Share Posted 18 August , 2019 Hmm-Appears to be merely a Colonel in the Home Guard. The film follows Wynne-Candy from when he is an idealistic young officer returned on leave from the Boer War through to his retirement as a major-general in the Regular Army and his service as an anachronistic and obdurate colonel in the Home Guard. One of the finest films ever made: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Watch it here I have a feeling that we may be heading towards discussing Corporal Jones' medals in "Dad's Army" - which we did 14 years ago here Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 18 August , 2019 Share Posted 18 August , 2019 The blue ribbon with two red stripes is the George V Coronation Medal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_George_V_Coronation_Medal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 19 August , 2019 Share Posted 19 August , 2019 Givn his career, a CMG and a George VI Coronation medal would be expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 19 August , 2019 Share Posted 19 August , 2019 Anyone want to have a go at the medal ribbons for Major General Clive Wynne-Candy while we are at it? VC, CB, DSO, QSAM, KSAM, WW1 Trio, GvR Coronation Medal and two puzzlers. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 19 August , 2019 Share Posted 19 August , 2019 1 hour ago, CorporalPunishment said: VC, CB, DSO, QSAM, KSAM, WW1 Trio, GvR Coronation Medal and two puzzlers. Pete. Wow!! You must have already been to Specsavers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 19 August , 2019 Author Share Posted 19 August , 2019 Another photo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 19 August , 2019 Share Posted 19 August , 2019 Wow!! You must have already been to Specsavers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 19 August , 2019 Share Posted 19 August , 2019 2 hours ago, Moonraker said: Another photo: Those last two ribbons are baffling me. Foreign maybe. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 19 August , 2019 Share Posted 19 August , 2019 The ribbon next to the George V Coronation medal may be the Russian Order of St Anna: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Saint_Anna It was awarded to, for example, Sir John Asser for his First war service: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Asser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 20 August , 2019 Share Posted 20 August , 2019 12 hours ago, Uncle George said: The ribbon next to the George V Coronation medal may be the Russian Order of St Anna: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Saint_Anna It was awarded to, for example, Sir John Asser for his First war service: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Asser I think you could well be right there, it certainly looks like it. The last ribbon, the red and black one, could be that of the Yser Medal, a Belgian award for the Battle of the Yser in October 1914. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 30 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 30 September , 2019 And what about the medals worn by Flight Lieutenant Jack Collins, played by Ray Barrett in Series 2 episode 8 of "Colditz" Even I know that the top ribbon is a WWII DFC - because the SBO remarked on it; he also seemed to refer to another ribbon that Collins related to his serving as an ambulance driver with the French at Verdun in the Great War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 30 September , 2019 Share Posted 30 September , 2019 1 hour ago, Moonraker said: And what about the medals worn by Flight Lieutenant Jack Collins, played by Ray Barrett in Series 2 episode 8 of "Colditz" Even I know that the top ribbon is a WWII DFC - because the SBO remarked on it; he also seemed to refer to another ribbon that Collins related to his serving as an ambulance driver with the French at Verdun in the Great War. DFC, Great War trio and what looks to be the Croix de Guerre. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now