A good set of WWII medals were sold {a shame / almost a sin } on TV for the usual £30 or 40 that is a sin . The Africa Star had a small rosette on the ribbon and was described by the expert as a "Mentioned in despatches" symbol in error I believe. I checked in a Medal Year book and the closest description to this is under the qualifications to receive this award; RAF personnel also qualified for this clasp, denoted by a SILVER rosette on the ribbon alone. The rosette on this TV item I believe was Gold / Brass. Can anyone tell me what this small rosette was for or is it the RAF clasp? Neil
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b038jx02/Bargain_Hunt_Series_35_Hungerford_14/ From 9 minutes 15 secs. There's no "1st Army" or "8th Army" nor "1942-1943" clasp so not Army (edit note - but maybe as noted below). The ribbons look brand new.
3mile sniper the silver rosette on the Africa Star denotes the RAF contribution to the desert war - usually known as the DAF = Desert Air Force. Cheers your 3mile SNIPPER is incorrect as this was an Artillery name of their capability to SNIPE from a distance - so 3 mile SNIPER
The silver rosette was only awarded to represent the award of the clasp 'North Africa 1942-43' Awarded for service with the 18th Army Group Headquarters between 15 February 1942 and 12 February 1943, or navy and merchant navy in shore service, or Royal Air Force service in specified areas from 23 October 1942 to 12 May 1943. In undress, a rosette on the ribbon denotes this bar. This from the Committee for the Grant of Honours Decorations and Medals in Time of War dated May 1945: R.A.F., 23rd Oct.,1942 to 12th May, 1943 Silver Rose. R.N. Inshore Squadrons and M.N. vessels which worked inshore 23rd Oct., 1942 to 12th May, 1943 Silver Rose. 18th Army Group H.Q., 15th Feb., 1943 to 12th May, 1943 Silver Rose. Incidentally, the Wikipedia page on the Africa Star show a ribbon with both an '8' and a '1' device on it... Impossible! Now having seen the clip.... ' a silver rose was the sign for a Mention in Dispatches in the Second World War' Epic fail (as the youngsters put it). Wrong emblem on the wrong medal. Must try harder.
Staffsyeoman Summat's a bit off somewhere - as I seem to recall that the 18th Army group came into being when 8th Army joined with 1st Army in Tunisia for operation Vulcan under Alexander failed and Monty then sent 7th AD - 4th Indian and 221 Guard bdes to assist the 6th AD 4th British -21st ans 25th ATB for the last push to Tunis and Cap Bon in May '43. Your date of February '42 was long before either Alex or Monty took over in Egypt and 1st Army landing in operation Torch in Nov '42...the same numbering was used at Sicily i.e. 8+7 = 15AG but Italy had 8th + 5th oops and agian a D day 2nd plus 1st Canadian = 21AG The RAF of 23rd Oct (EL Alamein) - to Tunis is correct as are the RN and MN but the 18th AG might be incorrect Cheers
Hi, For what its worth I think you all have it right to some degree the rosette is only worn in place of a bar when a ribbon is worn and should not normally be worn with the actual medal but there are exceptions the Africa Star being one of them full table here http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/media/7863/wwiiribbons.pdf Kyle
Just got up and was reading the various notes here...those with access to the clip will see that a "silver gilt" rose(tte) had been placed on the Africa Star. Mentioned in Despatches - a bronze oak leaf which would be attached to the War Medal ribbon. Clearly not described correctly in the programme. Rose - From the listing, on the 1939 -45 Star, "Aircrew in specified squadrons qualified for the bar ‘Battle of Britain’, denoted by a silver-gilt rose on the ribbon when worn alone." 18th Army Group HQ - silver rose ...(HQ 18 Army Gp), 15 Feb 1943 to 12 May 1943. My view is that it a reconditioned set, and that a "Battle of Britain" rosette had been taken from another set and had been re-attached to the Africa Star (in "error"). best
My late fathers Africa star has on the medal the 42/43 bar (North Africa) and on the tunic ribbon a silver rosette indicating the 42/43 bar. Oak leaf on war medal. WDAF/DAF from April 1942........Extract: Clasps Three clasps were issued for the Africa Star: 8 th Army 1 st Army North Africa 1942-43 Only one clasp is worn and when the ribbon is worn alone a ribbon emblem, ‘8', ‘1' or silver rosette as appropriate is worn to denote the award of a clasp. UK/Gov: https://www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility
The only British Medal where the Rosette is worn on the ribbon of the full size medal - the only one - is the South Atlantic Medal of 1982, where the rosette indicates service south of Ascension Island. Many old soldiers put silver rosettes on (full size) 1914 Stars to try and show that it was that and not a a 1914-15 Star when they had not, in fact, qualified for the "5th August-22nd November" clasp that the rosette signified when the ribbon alone was worn. Rosettes on ribbons of full size British medals (except the SAM 82) have been put there in error by recipients or those trying to mislead.
What is this comment about ? I believed the TV expert description of the rosette was incorrect but don't understand the added comment?
My comment on the 3 mile sniper was reference to your spelling for SNIPER - you spell it SNIPPER - that's all - nothing devious about it in the slightest , just trying to get things right - the Artillery bods boasted about their ability to hit a distant target which resembled SNIPING...you might call it nit - picking..so be it Cheers
