Tony

I've never really thought about this in the past but I've just been looking at Gordon's Austro-Hungarian U-Boot badge and there was a programme on the telly the other day showing an Austrian ship going down in WWI. I'm not aware of a coast in Austria or Hungary so where did they build their ships/subs and where were their ports? Do the Austrians and Hungarians have a Navy today? Tony

Darrell, I'll probably be round Dion's place next weekend so, if I see anyone who could be stupid or blind enough to kiss him I'll get her/him (Dion's not the fussy type) to do it for you. Maybe that way Jim will put you in a position to match Roy's cross. Tony

Hello Gordon, Thanks for explaining. I think I'll have to read through it a good few times before it sinks in though. I hope I can soon spot a repro on a market stall although I think 99.9% of them will be repros anyway. Tony

Gordon, Why does U-Bootsbegleitschiff have a gothic S in schiff? Should it not be the letter S or have I misunderstood? Tony

A close up of the DRGM stamped straps. Well, part of them. Tony

The non detailed picture.

What would you buy, this or shoes? The children can almost walk properly again now anyway. Tony

I couldn't get close enough for a detailed pic.

Hello, This is what happens on the rare occasion when I slip across to the dark side. I only wanted the Luftwaffe dagger but had a bit of spare cash burning a hole in my pocket and thought to myself, why should I buy the children new shoes? They?ll only wear them out. So I bought the Heer dagger instead. Let?s see your daggers, bayonets and swords too, there?s no need to stick to WWII German. Tony

Great stuff! How long did it take to research these men? I have a private diary belonging to a Sherwood Forester 1st July casualty. It is actually the Soldier's Own Note Book & Diary for 1916 and contains the names of the men in his section, notes on when he first arrived in France on 28th Oct. 1915 and daily life in the trenches. If you'd like some scan just let me know. Tony

You 2 are getting to be a pair of show offs . As it happens Marcus, I do have another packet. What I don't have are cases. Tony

Dave, I'd just like to complement you on your great photography. Have you been on a course? Tony

Hello Marcus, Yes that me. That place sounds like it could be any house in France. Dave, I'm really pleased that you like the cross, now I can't wait till you get me a Military Cross in return. Here's my only KVK, it's another family piece and I've only just realised it doesn't have a ribbon. Tony

Marcus, Where's the unlikely place then? Hopefully not of ill repute. Tony

This is great stuff Gordon. I now feel I know some important facts about these clasps although I've never actually held one or taken the time to look at them in detail in the past. Tony

Thanks for the comments so far. I can't see any difference between the 3 on the Floch and a normal one though. Then again, does anybody remember the ugly EKII with the die flaw I had a month or 2 back? That had a different sort of 3 and I couldn't see any difference in that and the normal 3. The way I see it, if I keep away from a low 1939 I should be ok? I can tell those cheap Latvian crosses though. I think if I buy another 39 EK1 I'll have to go out shopping with someone big and mean looking who now somehow seems to be gaining a soft spot for sailors. Tony

Here's the reverse. Which maker marks does Floch use?

Hello, I?m hoping some of you can help me out here. I can?t tell the difference between a good cross (1st or 2nd class) and a Floch. What should I or anyone else who can?t spot them look out for? What are the characteristics of a Floch? I only own 1 WWII EKI which is pictured below, most people have told me it?s original and I hope that is true because it wasn?t cheap (depending on which part of the world you live). Tony

Nice stuff Dave. Where do you keep it all and does Sarah know you are into sailors? Tony

I think the one in the dress is a man. Tony

Oh! I think the SLR weighed about the same which is enough when you have to lug it about all day. Tony

Hello, I have a photo of some Germans, I know the one in the Wehrmacht uniform was a bit more than just an ordinary member of the party but what about those in civvis? The one on the left has a cufftitle and all that can be seen is GAU. What could he have been? Any ideas? Tony

He was a gunner in a Canadian Tank, and I can remember him telling me about the dreaded '88s. He landed in Africa in '43, made the trip up through Siciliy, Italy (fought near Monte Cassino - saw the US bomb the crap out of the monastry) and then ended up in Holland and Western Germany at the end of the war. ←

I hope no one called the police while taking photos Laurence, it is a nice looking rifle. I don't know anything about them but it looks nice and light. I have a deactivated 1916 SMLE which I bought in England years and years ago and apart from that I've only used the SLR when in the army. I've been tempted to have a go with my wife's rifles and pistols but I'm afraid of getting caught with a gun in the car as it would be taken away from me. Tony

I've just dug out my clasps, none are attached to ribbons and nothing with U-Boot-Krieg either. Would the Somme clasp have been worn on the Flanders cross, on the Somme cross or both? Tony