Nick

I know that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists details of Civilian War Dead killed during air raids, but I am not sure how much info they have ? CWGC

Look under the German history section entitled Freikorps

The Friekorps were created in late 1918, they were made up of predominately WW1 veterans but many adventurers and students aligned to the right with nationalist outlook were also quick to join the ranks. There were many units created by various officers of varying ranks (but usually characters who were respected by their men) to assist the new republican government fight the communist elements of post war Germany. The Freikorps were violent freebooting private armies answerable to no one but their own commanders. The republican SDP government viewed them as a necessary evil and used them to put down the communist actions in Berlin, the Ruhr and Munich as well as fight in the disputed territory of Upper Silesia. Their lifespan was short and bloody with a few of the more moderate units being merged into the newly formed standing army (Riechswehr) in 1920. The near civil war that came about post WW1 is estimated to have claimed the lives of over 25,000 German citizens. Many of these were the victims of the bloody revenge partaken by Freikorps units in crushing the Bolshevik ?menace? The more radical elements still existed in an underground form well after 1921 and took part in the Putsch of 1923, this failed Putsch saw the end of the Freikorps for good. The Freikorps were essentially right wing soldiers, many of which were men who had fought long and hard in WW1 and could not settle back into civilian life. Although 1923 saw the end of the Freikorps many went on to form the SA and serve under the Nazi?s as well as join other veterans organisations such as Stahlhelm.

I am looking at trying to collate any pictures of insignia relating to the various Freikorps that existed in Germany post WW1. Can anyone help please ?

I am doing some research into the different Freikorps units that existed in Germany post WW1 and into the 1920's. The history of this period is very complex and a little confusing with units renamimg and combining at a rapid pace. I would like to try and piece together a comprehensive list of units, their commanders, insignia and their history. Is anyone aware of any publication that has done this already ?

The rarest of all the so called flower wars medals is the Memel Medal. There are some very good copies of these medals in circulation so it pays (as always with Third Reich) to be extra vigilant when buying these awards. However has anyone seen a Memel medal in a case or envelope that actually has provenance ? I have yet to see one that has any provenance with a case or envelope, and it is just too easy to put a medal in an Anschluss case.

Here is an interesting medal anyone know how many were issued and exactly who they were awarded to ?

have a Brunei medal which was given to me by my Uncle when i was a child. It's got his name and number etc on it, a bit of damage round the edge. He was in the Royal Marines. Can anyone give me some history as to the nature of this conflict and what role the Marines played? Any idea of it's value? (Note: NOT for sale!!!) Cheers......... -------------------- "I'm drinking wine and eating cheese and catching some rays, you know....." Chairman Posted: 18 Jun 2004, 22:02 Executive Board Member Member No.: 1 Joined: 10-May 04 Posts: 103 Location: UK Brunei came along a couple of years after the Malaya Emergency. It started off when the British propsed a Federated State to include Malaya, Singapaore, Sarwak, Brunei and North Borneo. This came shortly after large oil and gas reserves were found in Brunei. In 1959, a new constitution was written declaring Brunei a self-governing state, while its foreign affairs, security, and defence remained the responsibility of the United Kingdom An attempt in 1962 to introduce a partially elected legislative body with limited powers was abandoned after the opposition political party, Partai Rakyat Brunei, launched an armed uprising. These left wing rebel forces (backed by Indonesia who was against the Federated State) attacked and staged a revolt against the Sultanate of Brunei. They attacked key instalations and the Sultans Palace. The British sent in troops to regain control and the rebellion was crushed. The Sultan declared Brunei an Independent State supported by the British. In 1984 it became a totally independent State. However Brunei still has very close ties with Britain and the British Army still has a defence agreement with Brunei, including a Ghurka Battalion stationed there. The medal itself is probably worth at least ?250 if not more in todays market. Firefly Posted: 18 Jun 2004, 23:58 Club Staff Member No.: 9 Joined: 5-June 04 Posts: 45 Location: Essex, UK Thanks for that Mr Chairman. Would like to speak to my Uncle about what he did out there but i haven't seen him since i was a kid. Have had the medal properly ribboned and mounted anyway, looks good...... -------------------- "I'm drinking wine and eating cheese and catching some rays, you know....." Vice Chairman Posted: 21 Jun 2004, 19:34 Executive Board Member Member No.: 3 Joined: 12-May 04 Posts: 169 Location: I think that would maybe go for ?400-?500 at an auction, at the moment!

Anyone ID these cap badges? Please ?

Was there any inquiry with regards the actions of the Captains of the three Cruisers. It seems pretty bad that they were not zig zagging despite the U boat threat and this decision ultimatley cost the lives of nearly 1500 men ! Did the Captains survive the sinkings ?

I was reading up recently some examples of Western European Mercenaries who fought in the War in Bosnia in the early nineties. The more I read the more fascinated I have become into this chilling and bloody tale. From German and Austrian neo nazi's who supported Croatian ethnic cleansing operations to the tale of Jackie Arkl?v a psychopathic black Swedish mercenary. Jackie Arkl?v's story pretty well sums it up for me. He is a black Swedish National who went to Bosnia in 1993. He was captured in 1995 by the Serbs and he sentenced as a HVO war criminal and got 13 years for war crimes including rape, and torture. He was also a camp guard at the infamous Heliodrom concentration camp outside Mostar. He was sentenced to 13 years but under pressure from the Swedish government his sentenced was reduced to 8 years. He was regularly visited by the Swedish Government and they persuaded the IRC to get him exchanged as a POW under the DAYTON agreement. He served little over a year in prison. On return to Sweden he joined a neo nazi group (he had previously been a neo nazi with the White Aryan Resistance). His nazi ideals had led him to join a fascist wing of the Croatian army. In his diary he wrote that this fulfilled his `longing to experience the fascist dream'. He described how killing Muslims in Bosnia gave him feelings akin to orgasm. He was arrested in Mostar on 10 June 1995 by Muslim soldiers after he wandered drunk across the front line. He was tried on eight counts of torture and looting. On his return to Sweden he turned to crime to fund his nazi party. He robbed a bank with two other neo nazi's in the town of Kisa, escaping with almost ?200,000 in a stolen Saab. The robbers opened fire first on a policeman who pursued them. He escaped into a marsh and hid. The men threw at least two hand grenades after him. Later they opened fire on a police car carrying two police officers Olov Bor?n, 42, and Robert Karlstr?m, 30. After a gunfight where both policemen were over whelmed by superior fire power Arkl?v made both officers kneel down and he shot them in the back of the head with one of their own revolvers. Eventually Arkl?v was detained by German Police who "accidentally" shot him in the chest after he gave himself up. He survived and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

So if there was little in the weapons themselves who had the the best snipers with the highest kills ? I assume that the conflict on the eastern front was the main theatre for sniper operations due to the length of the conflict.

Can anyone tell me about the circumstances surrounding the sinking of HMS Hogue in 1914 ? On the same note what was the first RN ship sunk during WW1. Thanks

There are a few fake wound badges out there. I have not seen any fake ww1 but I am sure they are out there. As for the Spanish type and 1939 type wound badge there are a few good copies out there so beware. Generally for the 1939 type the black wound badges were hollow backed and made of brass or pressed steel. The Silver & Gold wound badges were solid backed and made of heavy tombak or lighter zinc alloy. The Silver and Gold was applied as a wash over the metal.

Any thoughts on what was the best sniper rifle in WW2. I know that the best snipers are dependent on training and experience, so it does not necessarily follow that the users of the best rifle made the best snipers.

The 1937 type

Wound Bagdes were first awarded in WW1 to those that had received wounds. They were issued in three grades Black, Silver & Gold. The awards were reinstituted in 1937 when the Condor Legion assisted Franco in the Spanish Civil war. These 1937 type badges were similar to WW1 badges with the addition of a swastika. The grade remained the same but no Gold badges were issued to the Legion Condor. In 1939 the design changed slightly by upgrading the helmet design. As for the grades it depending on the type of injury or how many times the individual had been wounded in action. Here is a 1939 Silver Wound Badge, compared to a 1937 Gold Wound Badge (although not awarded for the Condor Legion these were still manufactured and issued at the outbreak of WW2 until stocks were exhausted)

Anyone got any information on the Sword that Richard Sharpe in Bernard Cornwalls novels uses ?

Very hard question to answer. There were many great Generals on both sides some were excellent tacticians well respected and admired by their men, but cold fish who had little feeling for the men they led and saw it as a job that had to be done. Others were not so good on the tactical front but adored and idolised by the men they led. I agree Rommel seemed to have it both, which is unusual and seems a quality that only a few have possessed through out history. He is also well respected by his enemy and many Desert Rats have respectful if not affectionate feelings towards his memory even though he was the enemy. I will have to think about this one !!

I would say the Territorial Force War Medal. Only 34,000 medals were awarded. The criteria for award was very strict. To receive it men had to have had 4 year Territorial Service by 30 Sept 1914. They must have also served overseas between 4 Aug 1914 and 11 Nov 1918. Also those who qualified for 1914 & 1914/15 Stars were excluded.

RE HMS Acorn I have probably got it wrong but I will do some digging. As for loss of lives what was the greatest loss at sea for a single ship during WW2 ? It seems that this fate was the sinking of the German passenger ship Wilhelm Gustloff in Jan 1945 by a Russian Sub. It is estimated 10,000 people lost their lives the exact figue is not known due to the amount of refugees cramed on board. Also the remains of Field Marshal von Hindenburg and his wife, were being transported away from the advancing Russian army.

Here is another in the Fallschirmj?ger series by famous war artist W Willrich: Oberst Br?uer if anyone would like to fill in the details on him:

Firefly Spot on ! What gave it away ? You sir are a true anorak. Battleship BB55 USS North Carolina as of Sept 2003. A truly enormous ship that although a little primitive by today?s standard had many more home comforts than afforded to equivalent RN ships of the time. This included in true US style a Soda fountain and ice cream parlour !! Here is a short history of her taken from the official memorial website. "When the keel of NORTH CAROLINA was laid in October of 1937, she was the first battleship to be constructed in sixteen years. She became the first of ten fast battleships to join the fleet in World War II. NORTH CAROLINA (BB 55) and her sister ship, WASHINGTON (BB 56), comprised the NORTH CAROLINA Class. Following them were the SOUTH DAKOTA Class ? SOUTH DAKOTA (BB 57), INDIANA (BB 58), MASSACHUSETTS (BB 59), and ALABAMA (BB 60) ? and the IOWA Class - IOWA (BB 61), NEW JERSEY (BB 62), MISSOURI (BB 63), and WISCONSIN (BB 64). At the time of her commissioning on 9 April 1941, she was considered the world?s greatest sea weapon. Armed with nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns in ten twin mounts, NORTH CAROLINA proved a formidable weapons platform. Her wartime complement consisted of 144 commissioned officers and 2,195 enlisted men, including about 100 Marines. During World War II, NORTH CAROLINA participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific area of operations and earned 15 battle stars. In the Battle of the Eastern Solomon?s Islands in August of 1942, the Battleship?s anti-aircraft barrage helped save the carrier ENTERPRISE, thereby establishing the primary role of the fast battleship as protector of aircraft carriers. One of her Kingfisher pilots performed heroically during the strike on Truk when he rescued ten downed Navy aviators on 30 April 1944. In all, NORTH CAROLINA carried out nine shore bombardments, sank an enemy troopship, destroyed at least 24 enemy aircraft, and assisted in shooting down many more. Her anti-aircraft guns helped to halt or frustrate scores of attacks on aircraft carriers. She steamed over 300,000 miles. Although Japanese radio announcements claimed six times that NORTH CAROLINA had been sunk, she survived many close calls and near misses - such as the Japanese torpedo which slammed into the Battleship?s hull on 15 September 1942. A quick response on the part of the crew allowed the mighty Ship to keep up with the fleet. By war?s end, the Ship lost ten men in action and had 67 wounded. After serving as a training vessel for midshipmen, NORTH CAROLINA was decommissioned 27 June 1947 and placed in the Inactive Reserve Fleet in Bayonne, New Jersey, for the next 14 years until the 1958 announcement of her impending scrapping led to a statewide campaign by citizens of North Carolina to save the ship from the scrappers torches and bring her back to her home state. The Save Our Ship (SOS) campaign was successful and the Battleship arrived in her current berth on 2 October 1961 and was dedicated as the State's memorial to its World War II veterans on 29 April 1962. Vital Statistics Hull Number: BB 55 Keel Laid: October 27, 1937 Launched: June 13, 1940 Commissioned: April 9, 1941 Decommissioned: June 27, 1947 Length: 728 feet 5/8 inches long Extreme Beam: 108 feet 3 7/8 inches wide Mean Draught: 31 feet 7 inches normal, 35 feet 6 inches maximum Displacement: 36,600 tons standard, 44,800 tons full load Complement: 2,339 (144 officers and 2,195 enlisted) Speed: 28 knots Armament: 9 16-inch/45 caliber guns 20 5-inch/38 caliber guns 60 40mm/56 caliber guns 48 20mm/70 caliber guns "

Lets see if you Navy Buffs have any idea on this beauty !! Photo taken recently so is still about

I may have got my facts wrong as I am relating something from quite a few years back. When I was a teenager I spent several years with the Sea Cadet Corps. Our training establishment which was sponsered by the Royal Navy was named after HMS Acorn. I have always wondered when she was last commisioned and I am sure there was a painting and a story relating to HMS Acorns role with HMS Hood. However I may be well off the mark.