MEDAL YEAR BOOK

The price guide and manual to the fascinating hobby of medal collecting - as used by dealers and collectors across the globe. Covering Orders of Chivalry, Gallantry decorations, campaign medals, life saving awards, miscellaneous medals and "unofficial medals" (as often seen at parades theses days) - the book encompasses all British and Empire medals as well as those current medals from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. All medals and ribbons are illustrated in full colour with an easy to use medal ribbon chart in the back. There is also a variety of other sections apart from the price guides including a look at the latest market trends, directories of dealers, libraries and museums and an index to "Medal News" magazine.

BRITISH GALLANTRY AWARDS 1855-2000

Since ancient times soldiers have been honoured for gallantry in battle. Over the years and in different societies such honours have taken many forms byut since the 1850s specific acts of bravery 'in the face of the enemy' by British and Imperial forces have been recognised by the award of a range of wearable decorations. These provide a visible indication both of the bravery of the recipient and of its recognition by the government and nation.

THE VICTORIA CROSS

The Victoria Cross, established in 1856 during the Crimean War, has remained to this day the highest British reward 'for valour' and is perhaps the most prestigious gallantry medal in the world. The VC has been earned in every theatre of war where British and Commonwealth soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians have served. In this book the author describes and illustrates many of the medals and the men and women who have been awarded them together with the award citations which are always remarkable and sometimes astounding.

BRITISH CAMPAIGN MEDALS 1851-1914

This book outlines the medals issued to British soldiers and sailors for military service across the globe. At a time of imperial expansion, British forces were almost constantly in action - against major powers (like Russia in 1854), in wars of conquest (as in West Africa in the 1880s), or in expeditions on the fringes of Empire, such as the North West Frontier, southern Africa or Burma. Their campaign medals have become a popular field for collectors since, apart from the artistic merit of some awards, most British medals were officially named, making it possible to research the military career of an individual. Collectors feel that they can hold in their hand a real link with the people and events of the past and with famous incidents in Britain's military history.

BRITISH CAMPAIGN MEDALS 1914-2005

This book surveys the medals awarded to British personnel for military service around the world and in two world wars. The campaign medals awarded for the military actions have become a popular field for collectors, since the majority of British awards were officially named, thus making it possible to research the military career of an individual or regiment. This second edition has been extended to include the operations of the British forces in the opening years of the twenty-first century.

MEDALS: A RESEARCHER'S COMPANION

Old medals are objects of true fascination: tangible links with the past and poignant reminders of those who served. In recent centuries the British government has bestowed a wide range of awards, from the OBE to campaign medals like the 1914 Star. This awards system presents a great opportunity for historical research, whether your starting point is an ancestor, a regiment, a campaign, or a medal. Most awards are attributable to individual men and women, and documented in sources still available today. These sources can be incredibly informative: for example, First World War medals rolls are the nearest we have to a full 'roll-call' for the Great War. Unlike other works which focus on medals identification, this guide shows you how to fully exploit the associated records - and extend your research into sources like the census and the War Diaries.

COLLECTING MILITARY MEDALS: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE

This introductory guide to collecting military medals offers the reader all the requisite background information, the aims to which a new collector should aspire and the pitfalls to guard against, including the problem of identification of forgeries. The background to collecting military medals is inseparable from a study of history. As befits a nation for so long reliant upon naval strength for its independence, the earliest British medals were issued to the Navy, beginning with the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The first true campaign medals awarded to the Army followed the Battle of Waterloo, although many had been issued privately and unofficially before this. Britain's outstanding imperial history dating to modern times means that there is a vast field of military medals covering service in Africa, India and China awaiting the attention of the collector. There are also collections relating to major wars, including the Crimean War, Boer War and the two World Wars.

BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE: THE STORY OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

The year 2006 marks the 150th anniversary of the institution of the Victoria Cross, the pre-eminent British award for gallantry - and arguably the best-known worldwide. In this book John Glanfield concentrates on the story behind the VC's origins and relates the often extraordinary record of official interference in the award of this prestigious decoration throughout its history. In particular, the author's research casts new light on the mythical origins of the metal used in the production of the Victoria Cross. Illustrated with personal accounts, colourful anecdotes and tales of the later fortunes of those who survived, the narrative includes many examples of the holders and their deeds, briefly outlining the wider engagement in which each took place, from the Crimean War to the current involvement in Iraq.

VC's HANDBOOK: THE WESTERN FRONT 1914-1918

On the Western Front during the First World War, 490 men won the British Empire's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. An indispensible companion for any visitor to the First World War battlefields in France and Flanders, this concise reference book lists every VC recipient from 1914 to 1918 in alphabetical order. Each entry gives details of the individual's date of birth, background and education; enlistment, service history and unit; an account of how, when and where the VC was won; the date of announcement of the award in the London Gazette; other decorations; date and place of death, details of burial and commemoration; and the current whereabouts of the VC. A selection of maps is included to show the theatres of operations where VCs were won.

AWARDS OF THE GEORGE CROSS 1940-2005

Early in WW2, King George VI was impressed by the heroic deeds of servicemen out of the front line and civilian non-combatants in acts connected with the war. So he instituted the George Cross to be awarded to civilians and servicemen and women. The George Cross continued to be awarded in the post war years, and this book covers all of these.

BRITISH AND IRISH CAMPAIGN MEDALS: 1899-2006

This is a price-guide reference book containing up-to-date values, and lots of historical information on all campaign medals and related items awarded to British and Irish citizens from the second Boer War in 1899, to the current Iraq conflict. Every campaign is covered, including details of the various clasps awarded. Also covered are UN and NATO engagements where British or Irish troops were involved. A separate section is also devoted to the medals of Eire from 1916 onwards. The images are full colour, and are often full page sized.