Tony

That is a nice example of a S.A. helmet, it even has the 3 holes at the rear which I believe was common for S. African manufacture (for a neck flap). I always thought AFS was for Auxiliary Fire Service.

As the photo was taken in August 1918, I think these three wo/men will be lucky enough not to get conscripted to the front.

Here?s a nice picture of some German beauties who worked at the powder mill in Zeithain, Saxony during the Great War. Does anyone know the meaning of the disc they are wearing, is it an ID disc in case of accidents? Tony

That's interesting Jef, I used to go to school down Southwark Park Rd. (miles away from Southwark Bridge but Tower Bridge was just down the road) and never knew that. Tony

Graham and Kev, Thanks for that, I wonder if he was in the City of London Cyclist Company. He could also have been from somewhere else in the country and only billited in London. It's really annoying when they don't write their name rank and number on photos. Tony

I collected badges till going by normal wear and tear became unreliable and so stopped.

Kev, I see what you mean but I want it to be a SE London unit, so humour or lie to me and suggest it could be T 22 London. Cheers Tony

Can anyone help me out with the unit ID of this soldier? He?s a territorial I think as the letter above the unit name is a T. Being a territorial, I?m hoping the photo was taken locally so, could be (hoping) a south east London unit. Thanks for any help and I?m sorry the shoulder title isn?t clearer, we?ll blame the photographer for that. Tony

Pat, I think the prices are low because there's just not the same worldwide interest in Commonwealth/Empire 20th century militaria as there is in US or German. Some people watching Hollywood films probably wouldn't even know that anyone apart from the US, Japan and Germany took part in WWII. Tony

Here's some info I have on the MKII Brodie, I can't remember where I got it, probably somewhere online as there doesn't seem to be any books on the subject. Helmet and liner maker marks: Canadian made MKII C.L./C. - Canadian Motorlamp Co. G.S.W. - General Steel Wares and Aluminum Goods A.G./.C. - General Steel Wares and Aluminum Goods British made MKII HBH - Harrison Bros.&Howson (Sheffield) 1938-40 JSS - Joseph Sonkey & Sons (Bilston) 1938-41 WD - Wiliam Dobson & Son (Birmingham) 1938-40 B.M.B - Briggs Motor Bodies, Ltd (Dagenham) 1939-43 (Ford Dagenham after the war I think) RO&Co - Rubery Owen & Co Ltd (Darlaston) 1939-43 CS - Clydesdale Stamping Co. Ltd (Dudley) 1939-40 F&L - Fisher & Ludlow Ltd (Birmingham) 1939-42 EC&Co Ltd. - E Camelinat & Co Ltd (Birmingham) 1939-42 AMC - Austin Motor Co. (Cowley) 1941 British made liners Helmets Ltd - Helmets Ltd (Wheathampstead) 1937-41 Vero - Everett W Vero & Co (London) 1937-44 JCS & W Ltd. - J Compton Sons & Webb Ltd (London) 1938-43 BH & G - Barrow Hepburn & Gale Ltd (London) 1939-40 TTC - Teddy Toy Co. Ltd (Dagenham) 1939-42 BMB - Briggs Motor Bodies Ltd (Dagenham) 1939-45 SNL - S E Norris Ltd (Dagenham) 1940 CCL - Christy & Co Ltd (London) 1940-45 AG & Co CG & S W & LC PTB G & S FFL N.Z. made MKII Dunlop - Dunlop Corporation Greece Granular paint on standard MKII helmet but with a liner with metal band and glossy vinyl lining in a brown color .The liner support struts were replaced by metal. The liner was attached to the hole in the top of the helmet by two riveted (no nut & bolt) shiny metal strips. S.Africa Broad arrow inside 'U' - Jager & Rand TSP - Transvaal Steel Pressing Syndicate The South African made helmet has the liner with oval padding in the crown, similar to some British home front/police liners but is riveted instead of the nut & bolt fitting. Singapore made MKII These have the rim is rolled under and doesn't have the standard ring round the brim which can be seen on other MKII helmets.

Nice one Mike! The only difference I see apart from your one being complete, is the paper hinge connecting the lid and base. I'm thinking they used the same style of card/paper case for all the post war commemorative medals. Do you know which year the Austrian/Hungarian/Bulgarian medals were issued? Was it as late as the Hindenburg Cross? Tony

Nice lot Darrell, shame they had to die for them. Do you know if the crosses ever have assay marks or is Canadian silver always marked sterling? Now I'm thinking about it, British medals and Military Crosses etc. don't have any kind of silver mark do they. Tony

Douglas, I think Si is Eisenh?ttenwerk Schlesien in Oberschlesien. Until a while ago I always thought it was Siemens but their mark is SH. Tony

Hello Pat, I think it looks great and wouldn't treat it with anything. I've seen them with much more rust than that. The liner band marking looks a little wide for the metal M17 type, I think it's only about an inch or so wide, so I'd have a guess at it only having seen the M16 liner. As for being used post war, don't know. I'm sure someone with more experience can tell you for sure. Tony

I'd be interested to see what you find Rick. If this isn't a cardbaord box meant for the Honour Cross, then what does the official cardboard box look like, could it be similar in size and appearance to the wooden case for the Honour Cross? Or was there maybe just one style of cardboard box being used for one, two or three different awards? Do I have to buy myself a Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille? Tony

Thanks Chris, I've never actually had any slouch hat in my hands.

Chris, What are they like on the inside and are there differences between the Aussie and Brit slouch hats? Tony

Here's the case which is marked Bench or Dench & Sons London 1916 and also has the broad arrow mark. Just realised this is the US forum so slightly off topic although, I'm sure the US would have used the British compasses in 1918. Tony

Hmmmmm, FL? You've got me, I've never given it a second thought. I'll post the case as soon as I find it. Tony

I don't think this one is ugly either and just love the crown. It's unmarked, anyone know who the maker could be? Tony

I don't think any of my are ugly but .........

Dan, Here's my one, a British Vernier's pattern VIII dated 1917 without any name scratched on it. It looks exactly the same as the US pattern. The case to my one (can't find it at the moment) is very different to the US case. Tony

Try contacting this dealer office@deutscheorden.de He has a large amount of worldwide ribbons and although some are probably modern, I bought some very original looking British Great War silk ribbons from him at a fair price. Tony

Chris, Does make it a little suspect doesn?t it. I wonder if a bloke who was wounded in March, came back later in the year (much, much later in the year), was given a trial shrapnel helmet and painted his old divisional sign on it. I?ve seen a lot of dodgy signs on Brodies but this one really does look pukka even though the unit disbanded early in 1915. At least the helmet is 100%. Tony

Hello, I was once told which unit this rimless Brodie belonged to but have unfortunately forgotten. I had a feeling it was the 1st Div., 1st Brigade, 2nd Battalion from NSW but this site shows a different patch http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11189.asp I was told exactly which unit once but lost the piece of paper I wrote it down on. As I can't find it on the digger history site, does anyone here know which unit? Thanks Tony