Medals turned into brooches

[brett361975]

I recently came across a QSA medal that had been encased with a silver rim and a pin to be worn as a brooch, i have been informed that this was done by some people if the soldier had been killed? is this the case and if so was it a common thing to do during the victorian period and WW1?

The medal has been professionaly turned into a brooch by i would guess a jeweler and i would have thought at some cost.

The QSA was issued to a 2334 Pte F Ashcroft Liverpool Regiment,

I would be interested to hear your comments.

Regards

Brett

[Coldstreamer]

and menu holders as well

[brett361975]

Menu holders? really? not in cafe's surely

[Coldstreamer]

Apparently so, Ive come across Victorian medals in this form

Thankfully only ever seen one coldstream medal as a brooch (14/15 star with the loop cut off)

[Staffsyeoman]

A regular thing in Victorian England; if the one you've seen can be 'reversed' - i.e. taken out of this frame - no harm done. But menu holders, brooches... I don't think the medals were used in public cafes per se, rather private houses. But it's heartbreaking to see some; swivels soldered solid; backstraps of clasps cut off, the disc filed flat to 'sit better' on the table. Pins welded to the reverse of a medal.

The biggest heartbreaker was a four-clasp Crimea to a Light Brigade Charger. Not junk and still worth a sum, but a fraction of its value as an undamaged medal.

Done with pride, no doubt, but many years later sad to see.

The trend seems to have died out around the turn of the century; I don't recall many South African War medals treated like this or WW1 medals.

[kmad]

I have a 1915 star with the loop cut off and a slider soldered on, only cost a euro but wish i had an undamaged one.

ken

[Michael Johnson]

I have a Canada General Service to a Queen's Own Rifles Rifleman, present at the battle of Ridgeway, same damage.

The suspender has been restored, but the Queen has some nasty damage and solder around her.

[Pete L]

The QSA was issued to a 2334 Pte F Ashcroft Liverpool Regiment,

Ashcroft is entitled to the QSA with clasps for Belfast, Cape Colony and Laing's Nek. He was "Time expired 14th November 1900", so he left teh Liverpools unscathed. The date suggests he enlisted in 1888.

I have a QSA in a brooch mount that allows the medal to swivel to show either side. The ring has tiny silver balls around the outside and a pin and catch arrangement. It only involves drilling two tiny holes in the rim.

Pete

[James Blonde]

It was still being done in Germany this from 1934+ when the

Hindenberg Honour Cross for Widows, Wives and Elders was

issued, upon application by the fledgeling Third Reich, women were

ordered to wear it with pride.

One of the 750,000 issued. Privately fixed pin.

Connaught Stranger

[James Blonde]

The Combatant Version:

One of over 6 and half million issued.

Connaught Stranger.