TOPIC:

Hi

I decided to write a summary of the ABO and DTD medals, to describe the various naming styles, suspender types, and the fakes that are known.

DTD and ABO

Research on Genuine and Fake examples

Genuine Medals


Obverse of Genuine ABO awarded to Burger A. J. Viljoen.


Type I Suspender fitted to ABO Medal: Note no recess, fitted directly to disk.


Type II Suspender fitted to ABO Medal: Note 5mm Recess filed into both sides of disk to allow smooth fitment.


Reverse of Genuine ABO awarded to Burger J W T Wessels. Note Type I Suspender fitted.

The DTD



Genuine DTD obverse awarded to Veldkornet J. F. Van Graan.


Genuine DTD Reverse awarded to Veldkornet M. J. V. Theunissen.

Issue dates and suspender types.

As first thoroughly described by Henk Loots, and extracted by me herein , ABO medals can be divided into three groups:

Type A: Medals with straight non-swivelling suspenders as used on the British War Medal (1914-1918) and with naming in indented large block capitals (often unevenly positioned) as on the South African W.W.I. issue of the B.W.M. (Type I suspender)

Type B: Medals also with the WWI non-swivelling Type I suspenders as above but with a thinner and smaller, more even type of indented block capital naming as found on the South African WWII Africa Service Medal.

Type C: Medals with the small thin type of edge lettering and straight non-swivelling suspenders as used for the Africa Service Medal. (Type II suspender)
All type C discs have two 5mm. wide notches filed on both sides at the suspension hole.


Type A and B medal disc, showing hole and recess to fit either Type I or Type II suspender.



Top View of medal disks without suspenders. (Type A/B and Type C Medals)



Naming Types and Dates

Type A is applicable to all medals issued from 1921 up to October 1937.


ABO named to BURGER. J. L. VAN DER MERWE issued on 14 August 1922 .

Type B medals were issued from October 1937 to February 1942 .