Tony

Hello Brian, I've never heard of the Druze but have just been doing some searching and found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Mandate_of_Palestine It seems quite interesting so, in the morning with a clear head and no bottles of red to empty I'll do some more searching. Do you know if they are from the Middle East or is this just a coincidence? Tony

Well I'm obviously not up to the standards of some of you but thought I'd get myself a piece of black cloth and give it a go. Tony

Or this one

You know I don't see some of the differences you lot see What about this one, also 100% good. Tony

Hello Dave, As you know, I'm not an expert but they look to me too. Below are two examples, one I bought with a cross and the other belongs Lars' g grandad's cross. Tony

Does anyone know when officers stopped wearing cuff ranks? Tony

Nice tunic Dave, shame it's gone. He would have had the 1914 Star + bar and not the 14-15 star. The rosette on his tunic ribbon (a bar would have been sewn to the medal ribbon) denotes he was in range of enemy fire before 22.11.14 (I think). No bar on the 1914 Star would mean he was in a theatre of war between Aug. and Nov. 1914 but out of range. I don't think you can find out what he did to be awarded the MC without consulting the battalion diary but being a medic he may well have saved a few men while under enemy fire. Just a guess though. Tony

No one really knows Gilbert. My Grandad was burgled several times in the 70s but at least Tom's BWM wasn't taken, that's the only named family medal I have. My Mum's family has been in Bermondsey since the 1790s so they tended to join the Queen's. Arthur Thurston (my Dad's Grandad) was from the Elephant and was a pre war part timer in the 12th London's (Camberwell) being invalided out in 1915, then the RGA and Labour Corps. Tony

Rick and Rick, Freikorps suits me too, if it is it'll be my only Freikorps photo. The comments so far have already made this a much more interesting photo than I thought it already was. Tony

I'd be tempted to put an original liner in using original studs to keep it in place but would leave the paint as it is. Tony

Graeme, That's a great piece of news to hear, good luck with your search. Tony

Thank you Mr Germ. Gilbert, There still are a few more Neal's out there as well as my gg uncle Bob Yelf's pair, my g Grandad Arthur Thurston's pair and those of my gg uncle Fred Buckett but will be more than happy with Tom Forrester's QSA, last seen by my Mum's (in her hands) in the 1940s but stolen from my Grandad in the 70s. Tony

Thanks eveyone! Rick, what's Sarge's name though? The buttons do have crowns on them, below are a couple of close ups. Cheers Tony

Hello SPM, I will be pleased if the ribbon turns out to be one of the less common ones seen. Unfortunately there's nothing written on the reverse of the card. Is it not a little strange that his cuffs are turned back, bit of a mixture between the M10 and M15 tunic? Tony

Hello Graeme, I?m having a bit of difficulty tracking them down, two were in the Northumberland Fusiliers, and one of them (Ernest Neal) has turned up on the 1901 census as being 15 days old in 1901 making him more than just a touch under age, no older than 16 when he died of wounds on the Somme. Ernest is called Edward on the medal roll, Ernest on the SDGW cd and plain old E Neal on the CWGC. I also have a trio to a William EJ Neal from Hackney, possibly a relation who happened to have a twin brother but I haven?t found anything else as yet. David, I?ll keep you posted but I can feel an urge for booking a cheap flight and visiting the PRO. I actually paid for some of the details on George Stevens and will collect the documents when back home in March. Hopefully I?ll have the chance to stop off at the old drill hall in Bermondsey and take a pic of the Roll of Honour. George isn?t on the local war memorial or mentioned in the National Roll of the Great War. I've been to where Pte. Hilleard was killed and took some photos already. Tony

Neally nice Cheers Chris

Hello, I have a couple of questions about this soldier. Is that a Bavarian ribbon under his iron cross ribbon and is he an Unteroffizier? Cheers Tony

A good reason for not having pockets as full as I'd like them to be (who has?). I'll be trying to do a little research on the casualties and will post what I can in due course, have already had some help on J W Hilleard and G Stevens. From top to bottom and left to right we have: A book, Locations of British Cavalry, Infantry and MG Units 1914-1924 (will do look ups for anyone interested) 2 wound stripes Victory medal to 1133 Dvr. A R Neal of the RA 14-15 Star to 3-8472 Pte. E Neal, 23 Batl. Northumberland Fus., Tyneside Scottish. DoW 27.8.17 14-15 Star to S-9617 Pte. F J Neal, Rifle Brigade Letter from Record's Office to Mrs Neal regarding the Victory medal to her son, 46051 J W Neal Death plaque to 46051 Pte. James William Neal, 8 Batl. Northumberland Fus. Killed 14.3.17 Pair and ID disc to G/7620 William John Hilleard, 11 Batl. Queen's Regt. Royal West Surrey. Killed 27.7.17 Trio to 2656 Pte. George Stevens, 22 Batl. Queen's Regt. Killed 16.9.16 Pair to 348606 A F Neal, RA All well worth the money I paid even though I paid premium prices for some of them. Tony

Hello Hinrik, I'd leave the outside as it is, I think it looks great. Tony

Make sure you get that camera sorted first David. Does look different today doesn't it. Tony

Couldn't find exactly what you are looking for Mike but this site may be of some help http://www.fepow-community.org.uk/ Tony

Hello Mike, I'm afraid I can't help you with a site on the Norfolk's but will do a bit of googling and I don't think a separate thread is necessary. Tony

Keep them coming Chris, looks like the Dixmuide trenches on on my list of things to do now. I visited Vladso last year, I have an Iron Cross named to an officer buried there. Well, I can't actually confirm that he's the one. Tony

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A piece of paper every soldier should have carried in his AB64. Now remember to resist those temptations especially if you've had an average week in the line. Tony