Tony

These photos really are very interesting. Why, in Victorian photos, does the rank often appear to be pinned on instead of sewn? Tony

Hello Peachy, Cracking photos, please keep them coming if you have more. I don't know anything about Victorian soldiers and only have some family photos from around the turn of the century as well as one I bought recently probably from the 1870s at a guess, of an unidentified soldier. Are the first two photos named on the reverse or are they family? The last photo is just great, was it normal for The King's African Rifles not to wear boots?. Tony

Nope, can't find it. I thought I had at least two but according to my what's in the boxes in the cellar list, I only have one Empire Day 1916 certificate to Florrie Smale. My Mum never mentioned receiving a certificate, she just said they always finished school early on Empire Day after filling the classroom with red white and blue bunting.

Yeah, same here. I'll have a bit of a search myself. Being a long way away from the boxed up collection, I'm unable to nip down to the cellar to do another scan.

My Mum still remembers Empire Day and was telling me (last month) how much fun they had at school when she was little. I have a few of these certificates from 1916 and have often wondered what happened to the children they were awarded to. Tony

Reverse

I recently bought an unusual SWB, unusual as the recipient (I assume) had it partly enamelled. This badge was issued to 57432 Gunner Horace Henry Allibone of 120 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery, for a wound received in September 1917 during 3rd Ypres or Passendaele as it's also known. According to his RGA pension record, Horace's disability was Shell Wound Head, Scalp. His service record states GSW to head (severe). Gunshot Wound? 120 Siege Battery RGA was attached to 1st ANZAC Corps whose position was between Hellfire Corner and Railway Wood just off the Menin Road. For anyone who knows the area, I believe they were in the field on the left, opposite the Canada on the corner of Canadalaan when driving towards Hooge Crater. The Australian advance commenced on 20.9.17 at 5.40am. The aim was to capture pillboxes and other strong points while advancing under artillery cover. The attack was a success and over by 10.15am. Poor old Horace was already in hospital at Wimereux, arriving there the day before the infantry attack started. He was discharged 1.1.18. Now to search for his medals. Anyone else seen SWBs like this in the past? Tony

The many differences (indicated to me by dealers but not explained) between both world war badges never seem to be mentioned. Maybe the only difference is the metal used to stamp the post 1902 and pre 1949 badges. If this is the standard price for a Great War version I won't be buying one http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...A:IT&ih=015 Tony

Thanks for the replies. I've checked diggerhistory but it doesn't give much info apart from Great War badges being blackened copper and and later brass being used. I've also been told the opposite. I think I might just buy one and make myself believe it's a Great War period piece. I was speaking to a dealer the other day who said there are too many differences to mention, I think it could be a top secret thing Your one looks nice to me Larry, can you tell if it's brass or copper? These badges are getting quite expensive in my opinion actually, everything AIF is. Tony

Looks like we're all in the same boat.

5 ?? A bargain Chris. They can set you back at least twice that in the more up market parts of London. Use it to poke about in the ground while walking the fields of Verdun, not even you will manage to stuff it up. That well formed blade will stay straight for years to come. Tony

Hello, Does anyone know what the difference is between a Great War AIF hat badge and a 2nd World War badge? Are they brass? When did the naming change from Australian Commonwealth Military Forces to Australian Defence Force or is it just that the army's known as the ADF? As I'm thinking of buying a Great War badge, is there anything I should be aware of such as re-strikes? Thanks Tony

Didn't we see one once? Maybe it was when I was up in Whitesheet, it was naturally a rusty bugger though but all there, and very heavy looking. Tony

I thought they all did it themselves or should I say the missus? Swing mounted is quite common for a standard pair or trio I think but I wasn't around back then so don't know for sure.

Stuart, Here's an example of the cross with dots; next to the Victory medal and the rank of Captain. I don't know if it means his Star and BWM were also named to the same rank. I think Leigh will be able to explain. Tony

Pencils are still quite common, I think I have about 6 of them. Saying that, it is ideal to search markets/antique fairs in the UK where you'll find prices ranging from ooh bugger me, that's cheap to give me a pint of what he's on, being outside the UK can make things difficult. Tony

Hello Perce, The Volksbund is very hit and miss and they appear to be more concerned with the 2nd World War rather than the Great War. The German online telephone directory has 1682 Kaczmarek listed, so not ultra common but not rare either. Sounds a bit Eastern German/Polish to me but I'm no authority on German names. Tony

The badge can be seen here http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=28063 Leigh, please merge the threads if you wish. Isn't it fun, a simple Silver War Badge with a number that can tell so much. 19374 Gunner James Wilkes AIF was born in Birmingham, England and at 6'2? he was quite big for blokes back then. At some point in his life, this labourer migrated to Australia ? no worries back then about being on the Migration Occupations in Demand List or having to splash out for trade recognition in Canberra, police checks, visa, medicals and copies of documents signed by a lawyer. James lived with his wife Edith Isabel Wilkes in Old Pittwater Road, Freshwater NSW and later 40 Mona St., Auburn Queensland. He first served for 82 days on home service as a provost at Liverpool camp on the outskirts of Sydney before enlisting in the AIF on 10.01.16 in Marrickvale, Sydney. James left Sydney for England on the Argyllshire on 11.05.16 with 7th Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd Division arriving in Devonport on 10.07.16 and then on to Codford (a camp for ANZACS as far as I know) probably for training. At the end of 1917 James left for France with 107 Howitzer Battery. All went well till 11.07.17 when James was hit in the elbow by a piece of shrapnel near the Menin Rd. in Belgium and was sent to 2nd CCS, then to the Wimereux General Hospital before his evacuation to the Middlesex War Hospital in Middlesex, England. After that, he was sent to the 1st Australian Aux. Hospital in Harefield, Middx. (I lived in Harefield for a few years, the church has a number of AIF graves). After rehab., James went to Weymouth Camp where he was fined for overstaying his furlough 15. - 17.09.17, then camp Hurdcott before arriving at the Artillery Depot Heytesbury in January 1918. He embarked once again for France and arrived at Rouelles Depot on 23.01.18 before rejoining his unit near Amiens. James' elbow was still playing up and after a couple of weeks he was sent to Camiers Military Hospital. James was then moved onto Le Havre where on 19.05.18 he was medically downgraded. Poor old James had to stay in Le Havre until leaving for England on 3.12.18, he embarked for Melbourne on the Takoola Christmas Eve 1918, arriving 11th Feb. 1919. Within 5 days he had been discharged as medically unfit. Tony

Brian, Badges with the prefix B or no prefix at all are British army. As for the extra ring, don't know, but I do like these little anomalies. Tony

Thanks for the pics Brian, I didn't know the A badge was a type of SWB but have seen one before somewhere. As for the records of recipients, I think it depends on which country the badge was issued by. The Australian records appear to be the easiest to turn up a name if the record has survived, the British ones are there but apparently finding the name isn't straight forward. Tony

Thanks Gilbert, it's A 59444. I'm hoping for a positive result on the research early next week. Don't have a Canadian SWB, only RN, British army and this Australian one. I did see one to NZ a while back but thought the asking price was too much. Tony

Yes it is, I've already asked a researcher if he can find the recipient for me. If his entry sheet survives I should also receive his service record. Tony

It's about time you bought a pair too. I thought I found his pension record and attestation but it turned out to be a M Carey from Dublin who had served in the artillery. Couldn't find his MIC either. Tony

Is it the brass economy type of badge? Did they carry on wearing them through to the 50s? I wonder how long some die hards were able to wear the king's crown after the issue of the queen's crown badge. Tony

Quite true, but isn't it only Germany that sticks to those rules, the rest of the EU (or most of it) probably doesn't know or care about that ruling. Also an easy way out for the dodgy seller. Tony