Behind many military medals and militaria lies a story that is not immediately apparent.

The following pages contain examples of medals and groups that I have owned or researched, where further investigation has revealed something more about the individual behind them and the circumstances of their service.

In some cases, what appears at first glance to be a relatively ordinary medal or military object can prove to be anything but, once placed into its proper historical context.

These accounts are included to illustrate just how much can sometimes be discovered, and to show why research forms such an important part of collecting medals and militaria.

From my own perspective, it is often this element of discovery that makes the collecting of military medals and militaria particularly worthwhile.