Terry Posted 29 August , 2003 Share Posted 29 August , 2003 My topic title may be misleading, but as a collector of Great War medals, I have often wondered why certain units have more popularity than others. In another thread it was explained why certain battles or campaigns are more eagerly sought after (First Day on the Somme, Vimy Ridge,etc.), but my question is aimed at particular units. In Canada, probably the PPCLI are the most highly desired unit for CEF medal enthusiasts. Then come other units which were regular force (Royal Canadian Regt., Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lord Strathcona's Horse, RCHA,etc.) Next might be battalions with a highland background - the 13th Royal Highlanders, 15th (48th Highlanders), 16th (Canadian Scottish), 42nd Royal Highlanders, 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders),etc. I might also throw in the 22nd Bn, because of their unique French Canadian heritage. Along with the RCR's, the PPCLI and R22eR were the regular infantry battalions after the war, and to this day. The other battalions tend to be not so "glamorous". Few remember the 75th Mississauga Bn., the 54th Kootenay Bn., and so on, although their wartime service was certainly on a par or perhaps even better than some of the above named units. I would like to hear from other Pals about similar rankings of units throughout the empire. Do Australians favour their Light Horse units over the numbered line battalions? Finally, as a Canadian, I would love to see comments regarding the British Army itself. Do the Guards units really deserve to be more "popular" than the Somersets or the Northumberland Fusiliers? Is the record of the Black Watch more glamorous than that of the Liverpools or Manchesters? I realise that many people favour their local regiment which is completely understandable. Fire away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 29 August , 2003 Share Posted 29 August , 2003 When I collected medals, the Royal Sussex was always popular as there were so many collectors in the SE of England... there are even more now, so it means that medals to this unit always fetch a mint. The same also used to be true of the London Regiment; there were/are large numbers of collectors to this unit, which again pushed the prices up. It just seemed to be a question of supply and demand, rather than what a unit had been up to! I am sure others will comment on 'their' regiments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 29 August , 2003 Share Posted 29 August , 2003 Terry, In terms of medal groups that seem to fetch the big bucks, IMHO, excluding casualties in descending order: 1. Tank Corps (TC MMs fetch £800 - £850!!) 2. ICC 3. Anything Irish 4. HAC 5. Machine Gun Corps - The Suicide Squad - Collected by The Crazy Gang 6. Cavalry 7. Hertfordshire/Cambridge 8. Ox & Bucks LI 9. RFC 10. 14th London (London Scottish) 11. Guards Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hill 60 Posted 29 August , 2003 Share Posted 29 August , 2003 I can't say why some units are more popular than others, maybe to some collectors the more casualties a unit suffered the more desirable they become. I've never understood this reasoning as, surely, medals to a unit with fewer KIA would be rarer? My favourite unit/s change as time goes on. The Bedfordshire Regt, Royal Fusiliers, Middlesex Regt, East Surreys, MFP, all CEF units; the only reason is because I have family links (both WWI & later) with these units. Today I 'like' the CEF more than British units because of the amount of information that can be gained about an individual. And I have just got interested in the RFC and the German Jasta formations, and of course Richthofen has become a firm favourite, along with Francesco Baracca ('cos we share the same birthday) and Arthur Rhys Davids (he who shot down Werner Voss). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyem1 Posted 29 August , 2003 Share Posted 29 August , 2003 And the Welsh. Ian, Ebay Item number: 2189777582 gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted 29 August , 2003 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2003 Yes, I have noticed that 14 Star trios to Irish units and the cavalry tend to bring much higher prices than those to the "average" English unit. Also, a recent trio to the 129th Baluchis really did well. Not often an intact Indian group shows up on the market. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevebec Posted 29 August , 2003 Share Posted 29 August , 2003 I think to my mind ICC and LH units would be my buys if I did this. Mainly because I spent twenty two years as a Cavarly soldier and any thing on this subjuet is a grabber. But I had a mate who collected a particular AIF Bn. Also Bn's from a given state. Its like beauty, its in the eye of the beholder. S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 29 August , 2003 Share Posted 29 August , 2003 "Pals" Battalion medals also seem to be selling well at the moment, often bringing in considerably more than other battalions of the same regiment (especially if the recipient was an "original" Pal). Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted 29 August , 2003 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2003 A friend has specialised in the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion for the last twenty years. He has some 150 groups or partial groups to the unit, and has become the recognized expert on their activities. He is one of the co-authors of the regimental history, and when he wrote it, he found a way to work in as much as possible, the names of other ranks. So many histories usually have statements like " Capt.Bloggins, Lieut.Blank, and 14 other ranks were captured." He tried to ensure that the fourteen junior ranks were not forgotten. The 26th, besides being "my" provincial battalion in 14-18 is a good example of one of those relatively unknown line units who bore the brunt of much of the fighting. PS: The down side to my pal having such a great 26th collection is that it was very tough for me to find a trio for my own collection! (He finally took pity on me and I now have a nice trio to a Glasgow born ex-Cameronian who emigrated to Canada, joined the 26th, was wounded in June,1916, but lived to a ripe old age here in NB. Obviously he was nicknamed "Scotty" by his mates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 31 August , 2003 Share Posted 31 August , 2003 And the Welsh. Ian, Ebay Item number: 2189777582 gary Too right Gary, Apologies to our Welsh Pals! Welsh Guards - now there's a nice 15 Star trio to get your hands on. In fact is that theoretically possible to have a 15 Star inscribed to the Welsh Guards? Who's got the answer? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted 1 September , 2003 Author Share Posted 1 September , 2003 A Canadian unit (or group of units) which I left off my CEF list was the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force. Pairs to the CSEF are highly sought after. I don't have a pair in my own collection. The closest I have come is a nice trio to a gunner in the RCHA. He transferred to the 16th Field Brigade,CFA, in 1918 and served in North Russia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_davies Posted 1 September , 2003 Share Posted 1 September , 2003 Ian, Not sure but would have thought that members of 1/Welsh Guards would have recieved the 1914/15 Star. Think they joined the Guards Division in France summer of 1915. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted 1 September , 2003 Share Posted 1 September , 2003 In WA, the most popular units would be the 10th Light Horse Regiment, plus the main infantry battalions from this state, including the 11th, 16th, 28th, 44th, 48th & 51st Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordac Posted 1 September , 2003 Share Posted 1 September , 2003 Hi Terry: How about medals, cap badges, collars, etc. from the RNWMP (Royal North West Mounted Police)? They seem to be going for a premium. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted 1 September , 2003 Author Share Posted 1 September , 2003 Garth, Ah yes, how could I forget? Obviously a group name to the Mounted Police, who raised a cavalry squadron of the Canadian Light Horse, but continued, I think, to wear their own badges,etc., would be very popular indeed! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 1 September , 2003 Share Posted 1 September , 2003 Welsh Guards - now there's a nice 15 Star trio to get your hands on. In fact is that theoretically possible to have a 15 Star inscribed to the Welsh Guards? The Weslh Guards landed in France in August 1915, and fought at Loos in September where they suffered heavy casualties. Thus the original members of the battalion, plus the first re-enforcements qualifed for the 1914/15 Star. But I suspect there probably wasn't more than 1500 such groups to the Regiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 1 September , 2003 Share Posted 1 September , 2003 Thanks for that - the WG is not a unit I have really studied, but should have realised the Loos link, since Kipling's son died serving with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordac Posted 1 September , 2003 Share Posted 1 September , 2003 Ah yes, how could I forget? Obviously a group name to the Mounted Police, who raised a cavalry squadron of the Canadian Light Horse, but continued, I think, to wear their own badges,etc., would be very popular indeed! Hi Terry: In April 1918, the RNWMP raised a reinforcement draft ('A' Squadron) of 785 officers and men. Of this draft, 157 men formed a squadron with the Canadian Light Horse. The remainder were used as reinforcements for the Canadian Cavalry Brigade and the Canadian Tank Corps. Also in 1918, 'B' Squadron was raised and served with the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force. I guess the Holy Grail would be a Siberian RNWMP pair. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 1 September , 2003 Share Posted 1 September , 2003 Thanks for that - the WG is not a unit I have really studied, but should have realised the Loos link, since Kipling's son died serving with them Ian - he died with the Irish Guards, not the Welsh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 1 September , 2003 Share Posted 1 September , 2003 Thanks for that - the WG is not a unit I have really studied, but should have realised the Loos link, since Kipling's son died serving with them Ian - he died with the Irish Guards, not the Welsh. Ooer I am having one of those weeks already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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