TOPIC:

About 2 weeks ago I bid for and won an innocuous QSA to 26014 Pte. W.P. Small of the 35th Coy, Imperial Yeomanry. Aside from the box of issue with which it came (judging by the photo on the auction site) there was precious little else to go on.

Compounding this problem was that there were no IY papers on FMP to Small and I was left wondering if, from a research point of view, the purchase would turn into a dead end.

Thinking to myself that, before the vendor posts the item, I should ask her if there was any paperwork etc. to be had I e-mailed her back. Imagine my surprise when the package arrived today with his original Discharge parchments (Army forms B128 & B2077), original testimonial letter from his employers, Lowe & Sons of Portman Square, and even a small photo him with two comrades holding their horses bridles.

Needless to say, what a great augmentation to an otherwise humble medal.

I was so pleased I immediately wrote back with a proposal of marriage.....

It just goes to show though that there is absolutely no harm in asking and many (most?) people don't associate ephemera with the medals themselves - you get one or the other but not always both.











Regards

Rory

Rory

I think you have had enough good luck this year. It is now someone else's turn. Nevertheless, congratulations!

Regards
Brett

Well done Rory,
A great addition to the medal, well worth the effort.
It does make you wonder whether ephemera is "lost" when medals are moved on.

Paul

Rory,

I think you must be the living embodiment of the 'if you don't ask' principle. Contacting the family directly must be a great way to identify and obtain some of the paperwork but as Paul suggests this is all too often separated never to be reunited again. Also, when working so often with copies of paperwork on 80gsm pager, it is easy to forget the feel of the original parchment.

Best wishes
David