Tony

I echo the above comments. Thank you.

If things haven't changed you'll need to access the records yourself in Pretoria but failing that, try Audrey Portman from Rhino Research. She's a member here too I think going by the name Aud.

Great site and very interesting!

I can't imagine them being drilled to test if genuine. Is there only the one hole? Just guessing but if there's another hole on the opposite side could it have been a brooch where the obverse or reverse of the medal could be turned to make either side visible?

Nice find! What's scratched into the paint under the brim, his name? Looks like a Brit made helmet, would've been the icing on the cake if NZ made.

Chris, UK Ancestry is having one of its free weekends (today till Monday) if you fancy looking up the war diaries or anything else about the men behind your Brit Victory Medals.

Thanks Peter, that's more than I knew before and sounds plausible.

Just a little to add: Attested 11/12/15 Reserve 12/12/15 Mobilized 18/2/16 Posted to Depot, Lincs. Regt. 20/2/16 Arrived in France 28/6/16 1/Lincs. Regt. Wounded 25/9/16 GSW to arm He had only just come out of hospital on 28/6/17 after being transferred from 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital in Doullens to 9 CCS. He had diphtheria.

It's good to see non regulation being worn and yes, I reckon the lack of materials/equipment is probably a good guess. I wonder if the soldier in the first photo was late for parade. Putting his belt on while running down the barrack block stairs, being shouted at by someone like Brieftraeger Himmelstoss

I wonder if it was used more as a walking out dress after the introduction of 37 pattern battle dress? Something like a No. 2 uniform. This site says it was worn throughout WWII by MP's and bandsmen https://hatchfive.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/1922-pattern-service-dress/ Only worn with a web belt maybe? Jerry may know more.

Chris, If it's of interest there's a pdf link near the bottom of this page https://derbyshireterritorials.wordpress.com/resources/regimental-histories/ to a book called A Short History of the 16th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters, Chatsworth Rifles. Chapter 6 https://derbyshireterritorials.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/chapter-6.pdf covers the period from July 1917 through to Jan. 1918. http://www.the-sherwood-foresters.co.uk/v_names/vickers_g_70495.html

It's a 1922 pattern tunic and a nice large size too. Very similar to the WWI style of tunic, I find the easiest way of telling the difference are the lack of pleats under the collar of the 1922 pattern. Yes, the 1922 tunic was still in use in WWII. I've just had a quick check online and saw one on a dealer's site, it said they were worn into the 1960s. I believe the O stamp is a date code for 1942. This link will show the differences between the WWI style and your one http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ceftp/5button.htm

George Vickers entered theatre some time after 1916 and was entitled to the British War Medal as well as the VM above. He came from Southwick on Wear, Durham, enlisted in Derby and was serving in the 16th battalion when on the 21/10/17 he died of wounds. He's buried in Voormezeele, south of Ypres so possibly a casualty of 3rd Ypres. The Ancestry freebie finished yesterday but if you are a member it might be worth checking the war diary to see where the 16th were in October. George probably won't be mentioned by name but it'll give you an idea of where he may have been in October 1917. I imagine he was wounded only days before dying but that just an assumption on my part. Unfortunately his service record doesn't appear to have survived the the bombing in WWII. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/104912/vickers,-/ https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/1262/30850_A001598-01227?pid=5072809&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26qh%3DJpvKzYHITfP4nx54UmukqA%3d%3d%26db%3DMedalRolls%26gss%3Dangs-d%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsln%3Dvickers%26gsln_x%3D1%26_F8007A65%3D70495%2B%26MSAV%3D1%26uidh%3Da9g%26pcat%3D39%26fh%3D0%26h%3D5072809%26recoff%3D10%2B60%2B61%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true I should add that he wasn't the only George Vickers who died in WWI which makes the possibility of finding a memorial plaque to a George Vickers slightly easier than if he was the only one.

Is this a French 1847 bayonet and can anyone shed some light on the markings shown in the attached photos? Perhaps they’re just acceptance marks. Thanks for any help. Edit: don't know why the markings have come out sideways but it shows LJ and a B underneath. Another has HL with what looks like a crown underneath.

He was captured at Mons, not wounded but in a field hospital, in August 1914. Have a look here https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/1191975/3/2/ This site http://www.warringtonmuseum.co.uk/local-history/south-lancashire-prisoners-of-war-relief-parcels/ says he was held in Doeberitz (as does one of his POW cards) and Heilsberg, I imagine 33263 is his POW number. The POW cards from the ICRC are attached.

Would he have been eligible for the Defence Medal if a POW since 1940, without having escaped?

Shame about the spelling mistakes https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW1-FLIEGER-IMPERIAL-GERMAN-VICTORY-PIECE-A-PIECE-OF-PROPELLOR-BRIT-RFC/292602598361?hash=item44207953d9:g:nN8AAOSwVpVbIU9r And some of the other stuff he's selling. Edit: Not strictly an iron cross but thought I'd add it here anyway.

The first group is to William Anscombe from Maidstone in Kent. He served from 1910 to 1928 starting as a Boy, then Diver and ended up being a Chief Petty Officer. As for the 2nd group, not knowing the name on the LSGC makes it a little difficult but as the 39-45 Star is there it's possible he was evacuated from Norway or France in 1940 and spent the rest of the war in the British Isles.

Found the attached stating he left Salonica for demobilization 1/4/19. The war diaries for the 1/5 The Buffs, I don't have an ancestry subscription so can't view them. Oops, sorry! That link wasn't right so I've deleted it.

On 13th May 1919 Bertram Jones' death was official, he was presumed to have died on or since 28/3/18. Annie married towards the end of 1920, it looks like she may have waited for Bert.

Today is 100 years since Bert’s official date of death so I thought I'd post a little info about him, if anyone’s interested. Bert volunteered in 1915 aged just under 18 but gave his age as 18 years 10 months and served in his local unit, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, until being transferred to the Cheshire’s upon his arrival in France in Oct. 1917. In March 1918 Bert’s unit moved from the St. Julien/Bixschoote area, catching a train from Roesbrugge (Poperinge) on 23/3/18 via Suzanne to their billets however, on the 24th orders were received to proceed to Maricourt to ‘engage against the great enemy offensive.’ 26/3/18 retreat of around 10km to Bray Meaulte Rd. 27/3/18 they were in Buire sur l’Ancre (2km SW of Albert). The following summery from the war diary will give a better idea of what Bert and his mates went through. The survivors were relieved by 37 Bn. AIF on 31/3/18.

Shame there aren't any photos of the diary and bayonet periscope to hand but that 1st pattern Brodie is a cracker. Has the chinstrap been replaced with a sliding buckle or is the prong just not visible in you photo?

If something doesn't show it's usually because it's either not for sale to the country you're in or if being sold/auctioned in Europe, paypal isn't an accepted method of payment from the seller. Try the site/country it's being auctioned in e.g German ebay in this case by changing the .com to .de if you know what I mean. For France .fr etc. https://www.ebay.de/itm/Eisernes-Kreuz-2-Klasse-1813-EK2-Preußen-FW-Friedrich-Wilhelm-lll-mit-Band/332559729084?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 It runs another 7 days.

Thanks very much for your reply and the link.

That's bloody good mate.