11-06-2003, 09:33 PM
You probably remember that, when I visited the Imperial War Museum last September and made this report, I have asked several questions about Marshal Montgomery's Order of Victory (and possibly a pic of its back) to Mrs Diana Condell, the IWM's Curator, Medals :
* Is Monty's Order initially a screwback version modified ? Or has it been made initally as a pin-back ?
* If modification, where has it been made ? In USSR or in England ?
* Is the screwback system coexisting with the needle in the back ?
I committed to keep all of you informed of her answer.
I have received today an answer from Mrs. Diana Condell, and I take the opportunity here to warmly thank her for the help.
Her answer is the following :
"(...) Thank you for your further e-mail on the subject of Field Marshal Montgomery's Order of Victory.
I have now had an opportunity to check the files on this. The order of Victory is a brooch bar fitting. There is no physical evidence that there was ever a `screw back' fitting.
I am unable to give you any indication as to where the `brooch bar' was made except that it would probably be a fair assumption that it was presented to Field Marshal Montgomery in the form that we now see.
My own view, for what it is worth, is that the Soviet authorities may well have been informed, or perhaps made aware, that British uniforms have no provision for the wearing of insignia or medals fixed by the screw back method and may well have adapted the one presented to the Field Marshal accordingly.
Frankly, I think you will only find the definitive answer by checking with the Russian authorities. No photographs are currently available I am afraid.
Again my apologies for the delay in sending you a reply. (...)
Yours sincerely
Diana Condell
Senior Curator, Medals".
Ch.
It is very interesting to notice - in reading this answer - that this could lead to conclude that this order is, maybe, a new version of the Order of Victory...
And probably some of these Orders have been made in a customized manner...
Whatever, I'll try to investigate further, on the occasion of one of my future London trips. (I hope being able to get a pic of the back).
I'll keep you informed
Ch.
* Is Monty's Order initially a screwback version modified ? Or has it been made initally as a pin-back ?
* If modification, where has it been made ? In USSR or in England ?
* Is the screwback system coexisting with the needle in the back ?
I committed to keep all of you informed of her answer.
I have received today an answer from Mrs. Diana Condell, and I take the opportunity here to warmly thank her for the help.
Her answer is the following :
"(...) Thank you for your further e-mail on the subject of Field Marshal Montgomery's Order of Victory.
I have now had an opportunity to check the files on this. The order of Victory is a brooch bar fitting. There is no physical evidence that there was ever a `screw back' fitting.
I am unable to give you any indication as to where the `brooch bar' was made except that it would probably be a fair assumption that it was presented to Field Marshal Montgomery in the form that we now see.
My own view, for what it is worth, is that the Soviet authorities may well have been informed, or perhaps made aware, that British uniforms have no provision for the wearing of insignia or medals fixed by the screw back method and may well have adapted the one presented to the Field Marshal accordingly.
Frankly, I think you will only find the definitive answer by checking with the Russian authorities. No photographs are currently available I am afraid.
Again my apologies for the delay in sending you a reply. (...)
Yours sincerely
Diana Condell
Senior Curator, Medals".
Ch.
It is very interesting to notice - in reading this answer - that this could lead to conclude that this order is, maybe, a new version of the Order of Victory...
And probably some of these Orders have been made in a customized manner...
Whatever, I'll try to investigate further, on the occasion of one of my future London trips. (I hope being able to get a pic of the back).
I'll keep you informed
Ch.
