A vast field, covering many eras and countries. Specialist reference books on every period and country can be found. One book - Price Guide: Orders and Decorations, Germany 1871-1945 by Detlev Niemann (2004) - is highly recommended (I have several in stock at ?50 each plus postage).

Engraved on the reverse is: 'INTER S/DIV. // REVOLVER MATCH // 1950'. This is possibly the second prize for an annual revolver contest, the first prize being gold and the third bronze.

This medal commemorates the 200th anniversary of this fine regiment and simultaneously commemorates the two emperors, Charles VI and Franz-Joseph. The full title of the regiment in 1914 was Kaiser Franz-Joseph No 1 and it was originally raised in 1715.

This medal (4cm) commemorates Baron Trenk (mid-18th century), who commanded the Pandurs in the time of Empress Maria Theresa in all the wars against Frederick the Great. Trenk was eventually dismissed by her on suspicion of having taken a massive bribe from Frederick to release him when Trenk had effectively captured him.

The RND was raised in the Great War from men from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The enamel medieval sailing ship device is the heraldic emblem of the Cinque Ports of southern England and was also used by the Sussex Division of the RNVR, who, as part of the RND, fought with great distinction at Gallipoli and later on the Western Front in WW1.

The RND was raised in the Great War from men from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The enamel medieval sailing ship device is the heraldic emblem of the Cinque Ports of southern England and was also used by the Sussex Division of the RNVR, who, as part of the RND, fought with great distinction at Gallipoli and later on the Western Front in WW1.

The RND was raised in the Great War from men from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The enamel medieval sailing ship device is the heraldic emblem of the Cinque Ports of southern England and was also used by the Sussex Division of the RNVR, who, as part of the RND, fought with great distinction at Gallipoli and later on the Western Front in WW1.

Embossed 'RECRUIT' on the reverse under NRA, these medals, I suspect, were given to new recruits in the volunteer rifle regiments raised in the 1860s on completion of a musketry course.

The RND was raised in the Great War from men from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The enamel medieval sailing ship device is the heraldic emblem of the Cinque Ports of southern England and was also used by the Sussex Division of the RNVR, who, as part of the RND, fought with great distinction at Gallipoli and later on the Western Front in WW1.

The medal (diameter 39mm) shows a whaling crew race with a warship in the background and it comes in a small red card box with a paper label attached on which is typed 'CPO Wyatt'. The whaler, normally manned by a crew of 12 oarsmen, was a small sailing boat used for ship's landing parties.

The medal (diameter 33mm) shows a whaling crew race with a warship in the background. The whaler, normally manned by a crew of 12 oarsmen, was a small sailing boat used for ship's landing parties. The name 'whaler' derives from the type of boat used in harpoon expeditions against whales principally in the 19th century.