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Ad Rates / Articles / Classified Ads / Editorial / Home / Links / Showtime   Antiques and Collectibles Articles   Follow the arrows to other stories Medal Collecting - Part 3: How I got started   By Roy Bassett Experienced collectors in any field will tell you errors in judgment can be costly and time consuming. Beginners can avoid the early pitfalls with research and by listening to veteran collectors and learning from their mistakes.   We all start somewhere as serious collectors - that initial decision to focus your hunt on a particular field of collectibles. It can be as a youth keen on collecting stamps, coins, comics, sports cards, marbles etc., or in later years.   This is my story and it spans six decades, from childhood in Great Britain to adulthood in Canada, with thoroughly challenging and rewarding collecting experiences along the way.   I believe I have always been a collector of one thing or another, but it wasn't until the 1960's that I became a serious collector of anything. My first interest was in postage stamps, specializing in Canada, Great Britain and the United Nations.   I soon had a modest number of stamps in my collection and it was fun to find those difficult ones to complete a set or year. Soon after this, I started to collect coins, mostly Canadian and it was during a search of Toronto shops that I met Edward Denby, who ran a medals store.   We became friends and Ed never tired of talking about medals. Over a period of time, he educated me in many aspects of medal collecting. When I learned most British medals were named and it was possible to research medals and recipients, I decided I was to become a medal collector.   (Ed Denby was a captain in the Parachute Regiment during WW2, but rarely spoke about his experiences during that conflict. One memory he couldn't erase was being the first British officer to enter through the gates of the Belsen Concentration Camp in 1945.)   I did make the mistake at first by just collecting any medal I liked, but soon wised up and specialized in medals, first those awarded to the 9th Queens Royal Lancers (see medals photo), and later police and Masonic medals.   I purchased my first group to the 9th Lancers from John Laidacker of Pennsylvania, and this was the start of a friendship, which lasted until his death some 20 years later. The group I purchased was the 1914 Star, War medal and the Victory medal and by this time, after reading many books and regimental histories, I realized the recipient of this medal had actually been involved in the last battle fought on horseback and with lances against a German Cavalry Regiment in WW1.   Collecting medals became my main hobby and I cut back on the stamps and coins. However, any stamp I came across which portrayed a military, police or Masonic subject, I added to my collection. (In 2006, I added Canadian and British coins commemorating the anniversary of the Victoria Cross.)   I joined several Military Collectors Clubs and attended at least one medal show each month. The shows increased my knowledge of medals and introduced me to dealers I thought always acted fairly. I knew the ones I dealt with would stand by the authenticity of medals they sold.   It was through the monthly club magazines that I read of dealers from Canada, Britain and the United States and gradually, over the years, I received their catalogues or medals lists and was able to add to my 9th Lancer collection. I also attended auctions, but only bought if the auctioneer would certify that the medal I was interested in was genuine.   Within several years, I finally achieved my goal of obtaining a 9th Lancer medal for each of the campaigns they had fought in.   Over the years, I have learned to only completely trust dealers who will give a guarantee that your purchase is genuine and if found not to be, will provide an exchange or refund.   I have also learned a serious collector of medals can never get too much information from books and conversations with knowledgeable collectors. I have also learned how to identify genuine medals within reason, but I also know it is possible that I could still be fooled by a very clever fake or copy.   You must always remember that most medals groups tend to be very expensive and this attracts unscrupulous people trying to get your hard earned money. So set your budget and do not rush into any deal. Do your research before buying.   The research can include books and the Internet. My main interest being British medals, my book selection deals mainly with British medals.   At the top of my book list is British Battles and Medals, by Major Lawrence L. Gordon, published by Spink and Sons, London. Several editions have been printed. I consider this book to be the bible for British medals researchers.   (By reading the appropriate sections of British Battles and Medals, you can confirm the 9th Lancers, my regiment, were at battles which entitled the recipient to the medals and bars in the photo above. Medals in the photograph are named to William Betts - 9th Lancers and span several years of fighting on horseback. The left medal in 1848 and 1849 and the one on the right, 1857 and 1858. In those days, soldiers wore their medals most of the time and in fighting on horseback, they would bounce around hitting each other causing edge nicks and bruises. The wear is another clue in authenticating the medals. The book will tell you the 9th Lancers were the only British Regiment to earn the three bars on the Indian Mutiny Medal (the one on the right.) I would also recommend Medal Yearbook, published by Token Publishing Ltd., the editorial team of Medal News; The Medals Yearbook, printed and published by Cadet's Own magazine and Spink's Standard Catalogue of British Orders, Decorations and Medals, published by Spink and Sons Ltd, London. You may find one or all of these books at your local library, or, search the following web pages: www.militarybookworm.co.uk or www.naval-military-press.com   To compare prices for British medals, try www.medalsonline.co.uk Medals clubs you can join include the Orders and Medals Research Society at www.omrs.org.uk and the Military Collectors' Club of Canada. John A. Zabarylo, secretary-treasurer of the latter, can be reached by at mccc_natl@hotmail.com for information on joining the club. I cannot stress the importance of learning all you can about medals before you purchase the more expensive ones. "Buyer beware" is very true in this hobby, so do a lot of talking and reading before you buy.   You have my e-mail address; write me if you have any questions or concerns.   Roy Bassett is a veteran of the British army (1950s) and a retired Toronto policeman. He can be reached at ninelancer@sympatico.ca   This photo of Roy in uniform was taken in 1956 in Weymouth, England, when he Roy was a member of the Dorset Constabulary. He emigrated to Canada and joined the Toronto police force the following year.   Other articles by Roy Bassett   Collecting militaria   Collecting police badges and patches   Collecting medals, a three-part series (Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3)   Remembering Dr. John McCrae     Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2007 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster