09-17-2003, 09:38 PM
Last week, visiting the Imperial War Museum in London, I have taken the opportunity to see the only Order of Victory located in western Europe, the Marshal Montgomery's one.
It is part of the IWM permanent exhibition dedicated to him : "Monty".
No need to say that - if I have already seen several ribbons of the Order of Victory on uniforms : Zhukov, Konev, Brezhnev
It is the first time I have seen a real Order of Victory !!! Great day !!
I can't describe it, as it is in such a case that you regret lacking vocabulary in a language that is not your native one... and I'll don't do it in french...
So, even if the location of the Order is not at all ideal to take pictures, I tried it and made an interesting "discovery". Here are they (sorry for the quality due to circumstances) :
The Monty's awards showcase. His Order of Victory is on the left, just above his Suvorov 1st Class.
Monty's order of Victory and Suvorov 1st Class.
One more time, sorry for the quality of the pic.
Slightly different angle.
And here, on this pic, you can see that Monty's Order of Victory is a pin-back version and not a screwback one.
That's an interesting point, as we know that - except Brezhnev's one - all Orders of Victory are supposed to be
screwback versions. (see PMD page 49).
What is interesting to know is :
* Is Monty's Order initially a screwback version modified ? Or has it been made initially 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 have asked all these questions (and possibly a pic of the back) to the IWM's Curator, Medals. I'll keep you
informed...
As anyone any clue on these points ?
Close-up.
The Order of Victory's ribbon is in the 7th rank.
Montgomery + Stalin.
Montgomery's miniature bar, including the Suvorov 1st Class.
"Small' Suvorov as part of his bar;
Sorry for the quality of the pic, but it is interesting to see how he mounted this screwback award on a bar.
Ch.
It is part of the IWM permanent exhibition dedicated to him : "Monty".
No need to say that - if I have already seen several ribbons of the Order of Victory on uniforms : Zhukov, Konev, Brezhnev
It is the first time I have seen a real Order of Victory !!! Great day !!
I can't describe it, as it is in such a case that you regret lacking vocabulary in a language that is not your native one... and I'll don't do it in french...
So, even if the location of the Order is not at all ideal to take pictures, I tried it and made an interesting "discovery". Here are they (sorry for the quality due to circumstances) :
The Monty's awards showcase. His Order of Victory is on the left, just above his Suvorov 1st Class.
Monty's order of Victory and Suvorov 1st Class.
One more time, sorry for the quality of the pic.
Slightly different angle.
And here, on this pic, you can see that Monty's Order of Victory is a pin-back version and not a screwback one.
That's an interesting point, as we know that - except Brezhnev's one - all Orders of Victory are supposed to be
screwback versions. (see PMD page 49).
What is interesting to know is :
* Is Monty's Order initially a screwback version modified ? Or has it been made initially 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 have asked all these questions (and possibly a pic of the back) to the IWM's Curator, Medals. I'll keep you
informed...
As anyone any clue on these points ?
Close-up.
The Order of Victory's ribbon is in the 7th rank.
Montgomery + Stalin.
Montgomery's miniature bar, including the Suvorov 1st Class.
"Small' Suvorov as part of his bar;
Sorry for the quality of the pic, but it is interesting to see how he mounted this screwback award on a bar.
Ch.
