Tony

Stefan, you have a mini 1914 Star trio with clasp, usually known as a Mons bar. The clasp was earned (by memory) by men who were within range of enemy fire from 5/8/14 to 26/11/14. The soldier didn't have to have been in action at Mons to earn it and I believe the full size bar had to be applied for by men who survived the war, whereas those to casualties were automatically posted to the next of kin. The quality isn't much cop but I suppose it depended on how much cash an ex soldier had spare and wanted to spend on his minis. A pic of a set I have to an officer is below, this soldier obviously had more money to spend. Tony Forgot to mention, this link explains a little about the medals http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/themedals.html

I have one too but can't work out what the mark is, it's possibly 3 or 4 digits over almost half of the eyelet but I can't get a good photo or find my loupe. Below is a pic of the cross, I've no idea who made it, perhaps you or someone else can tell from the characteristics. Tony

Yes of course, with nothing official to back it up it can only be observations or ideas or he said, she said. I wonder if the nice sleek ones were taken out of service when the big fat chunky compasses were issued? Do you know if the compass was captured with him? I can't find a battalion diary for 1917 but it appears 3 officers and about 20 men managed to swim back across the Yser to safety after a very successful German attack. Luckily my compass only has the broad arrow and no name on the case but the compass dial is different than yours, a Verner's pattern VIII from 1917. Tony

A post war (post Commonwealth) stamping according to the 2nd post here http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?26954-Mark-quot-U-arrow-quot and half way down the page here http://www.sscycle.com/tech/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10548&p=79823&st=0&sk=t&sd=a someone writes it means disposal of by the UDF. Going by the above I reckon it might mean no longer in service some time after 1961. Just checked another site, down the bottom someone says he’s only seen the diamond on surplus released for sale http://forums.gunboards.com/archive/index.php/t-362992.html

Thanks very much for the confirmation. Now I need to find exactly where they were in the line/who was opposite at the end of Sept. 1915 so I can hopefully find a little more info from British unit war diaries about their (139 IR) battle at Loos. Tony

Thanks Stefan but according to GenWiki that was up until mobilisation, or am I misunderstanding it? IR 134 were Saxon too so I imagine you're correct. Also if the unit was known as Koeniglich Saechsisches 11 Inf. Regt. 139, does that just mean they were 11th in seniority among Saxon regiments? Tony

Hello, I’m trying to find out which British unit was opposite the 139 Saxon Inf. Regt. (40 Div., Inf. Brig. 89?) during the battle of Loos in Autumn 1915. After checking vol. 9 of the Reichsarchiv books I’m none the wiser. It looks like they were west of Lille on 25/9/15 and opposite the 1st British army corps but I’ve seen online that they took part in the fighting at Hulluch. Some battalions were obviously moved around and put into the fighting where needed but was the bulk of 139 IR kept in the line west of Lille? Does anyone know the position of field hospital 7, XIX AK in Sept./Oct. 1915? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks Tony

Ta very much mate.

Thanks for the explanation Jock, if I ever see one I'll pick it up and have a good look. By the way, I can spot the M42 model but the M35 and 40 look the same to me Tony

Jock/Eric, are these ballistic failures? I always thought (as a non TR collector) they were purposely made two piece helmets for the home front. Tony

It wouldn't surprise me if they have a 'renew subscription' button ticked by default. Find My Past has and when you pay 1 GBP for one of their occasional monthly subs. special, you need to go into settings and untick the auto renew subscription box. Tony

This may or may not help with your research - from what I've found he was Joseph Toulmin, born about 1895 in Bamber Bridge, Walton le Dale, Lancs. Obviously his RAF record is what you want and should reveal the juicy stuff about him being a balloon officer. Tony

The prefix PS is a Public Schools Bn. From The Long Long Trail: 21st (Service) Battalion (4th Public Schools) Formed at Epsom on 11 September 1914 by the Public Schools and University Men's Force. 26 June 1915 : came under command of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. Landed in France in November 1915. 27 February 1916 : transferred to GHQ; disbanded on 24 April 1916 with many of the men being commissioned as officers. On Find My Past RAF records are available for download, they occasionally do 1 month subscriptions for 1 GBP so worth keeping an eye out for. Unfortunately I'm not a member there but perhaps someone here is and can download his record for you. By the way, IV is the Issue Voucher number, TP is a record office code for Royal Fus. as well as several other units and NW is possibly a code for New Army according to Great War Medal Collectors Companion.

Have a go at changing the photo to a negative in a photo programme on you PC/laptop. It might help but then it might not, it's worth a go anyway.

Hello Robert and welcome to the forum. I'm afraid I know nothing about badges but if it's hallmarked it would suggest to me that the piece is correct. What's the letter stamp. The Gaunt stamp looks like JF however, I assume it's a rubbed JR. If no one can give you a definite answer you might want to ask on the British military badge forum. Tony

Is the iron cross fake too? Must be worth 3.50 euros :)

You're lucky the dog dropped my wine glass otherwise I'd have that too

Not Godet or Wagner unfortunately but a Hoflieferant which isn't bad. The problem is, if I turned it into an iron cross award box I'd have nothing to carry my camping cutlery in. Tony

I'd compare the thread to something you have in the house that was sewn a long time ago like something grandma has or a 1914 Star clasp if you have one. Other than that I reckon it's as you say, you can never be sure if it was sewn on back in the day or not. Perhaps the edelweiss became a little loose over time and the owner fixed it back in place in 1970? Tony

Yes please keep them coming. Tony

Thanks Chip! It's not mine and the light wasn't very bright when I looked at it but I'll have to check if there's any sign of a number ever being there. Tony

Thanks to you both, it's much appreciated. May be one day I'll get to your standard. Tony

Peter, it looks black in the photos but it is indeed brown. Tony

Mike, Thanks mate, just had a quick squiz online it and you could be correct, and what with Chris' RCMP thought I found this http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/324959-1916-455-mkii-2nd-unmolested-picture-heavy.html Not an exact match but very close although the link is all about the gun rather than the holster. Some similar ones here too http://gmic.co.uk/forums/topic/42038-royal-canadian-mounted-police-badges-and-uniforms/?page=7 I think it's safe to say it's S&W but I'll have to keep on searching for an exact match. Tony

Wow thanks Gunner! Rick, I wonder if the ribbons have something to do with that shoulder strap that looks Warsaw Pact? Is there any certain way to tell if it's a made up bar or is it just a case of the 30 year LSM not being plausible? Can these posts be moved by someone to the appropriate forum? Tony