Tony

I had a great time at Beltring only there weren't enough British Great War items in my price range, too many dodgy German items (if I can spot them then they must be dodgy) and some real good Home Front gear. A day return was ?16.90 (leaving in the rush hour), well worth the visit I thought and only 45 minutes from Waterloo East. Tony

Wow Heiko, I'm waiting for the next lesson. How many do you have? Tony

Here's something from a book I have. I wouldn't mind having that mini. I didn't realise the bars Belgium, England, Russia and Italy were available although for other awards. Tony

Gilbert, that's a very nice lot there, a shame that 2 of the medals are damaged but at least you have them. I'd love to have a dirty untouched tin like that. I haven't cleaned mine, they came that way but, the other week I found out that soot from a diesel exhaust pipe brings brass up as new and didn't appear to scratch it. Other than that, good old Brasso will do but use it sparingly. I was back in London last week and took the opportunity to pop along to Beltring last Thursday where I bought myself a lovely Princess Mary tin with a full pack of cigarettes (open ), tobacco and card with envelope. I also bought loads more but none of it has anything to do with this thread. Tony

And here's a pencil with 1915 New Years card. If anyone wants to donate their complete tins to a very good home (my home) please don't hesitate to do so, especially you Gilbert. I'm back in Bermondsey for a day later in the week so you can leave your one in a secret hiding place for me down Lower Road. Tony

Here you go.

I'll stick some pics of mine on a bit later for comparison while waiting for your new batteries. I really like Princess Mary tins. Tony

Is the little card from Mary the Christmas or New Year card? I only realised there were two different cards a couple of months ago after buying a tin with pencil and card. Tony

I'm going to turn up on your doorstep in October to have a good look at that. Make sure you've got a piece of red carpet handy for me Tony

This is my only outer carton which isn't 3rd Reich as can be seen. There's a name penciled on it but unfortunately is too faint to read. Tony

Graeme, The prefixes are in Howard Williamson's "The Collector and Researcher's guide to the Great War vol 1". There are 2 volumes and if you are in to British Great War collecting (especially medals) they are a must. I bought mine last year directly from H. Williamson and at the time he told me they were almost out of print. Not cheap but well worth the ?78 I paid. If you have any prefixes on your medals and are wondering what they mean, send me a PM and I'll look them up for you. As for the tins, I don't smoke so no danger of them disappearing after a drink, it'd be a different matter if the Mary tins came with cheese on toast. I also have a full pack of tobacco so I won't be drinking with you. Tony

Hello Gilbert, ASC medals with the prefix T - are transport section SASC medals also have T - which denotes horse transport ASC medals with T1 T2 T3 or T4 are 1st to 4th new armies T. is for line regiments Is the Mary tin empty? I've been after a tin with full pack of cigarettes for ages (I'm too tight, no, I'm too careful with my money to pay the mad prices they go for) as my one only has 4 left in the pack. Tony

Or was T horse transport? I'll check later and let you know as the only prefix I know 100% without looking it up is 'M2' which is an ASC electrician. Tony

Hello Gilbert, There's interest in pictures alright. You are very lucky to get a set like that! I have a book on the prefixes indoors (I've just got to work) so I'll have a look later. I think it had something to do with being old army ASC but will check and let you know this evening. Tony

I thought I'd add this shrapnel fuse too for anyone who likes them to look at.

Here are 2 pieces from the Somme, the larger piece looks like it must have been attached to some sort of HE shell that was bigger than a 75. Tony

The markings

Chris, they are copying shells now? Take a look at my unfired 75mm shrapnel shell, do you think it?s a copy? I bought it 3 years ago without even thinking something like that would be copied. The markings on the side are hard to make out but look like: FD WC SC SC ?4 The bottom has Y over semi circle. Tony

So it?s a French Potez, never heard of them before. Thanks for clearing that up. Tony

Hello, A Bloch 200MB? What's that? Tony

Well done Chris! I haven't seen any like this before but since the trip to Verdun and the Somme I've probably seen about 25 of them and that's in the last 4 weeks. Actually I think I've got one with the top part of the shell attached, I'll take a pic after I've cleaned it. Tony

Hello, I have some news on Sid which was passed on by one of our members (thanks Andrew) whose great Uncle served in the same unit and also fell in the same battle. The following is part of Andrew's email: I would suspect that Sid was one of the 24 men in the German front line trench as the five survivors of the incursion into the second line fell back (my reasons for assuming that Sid did not fall in No Man's Land are, firstly that his diary was recovered by a German, and secondly those who died in No Man's Land were recovered only as skeletal remains roughly a year later - though obviously many were never recovered). I am still hoping to hear from the library in Nottingham but no news as yet. Tony

Although this person couldn't help me with my WWII Merchant Navy query, I have heard he is good on WWI soldiers http://www.militaryresearchon.com/ I've tried finding details myself but you do need a lot of time or at least I do. If you want to try yourself have a look at this very good site, there's some good tips and it's very interesting. http://www.ahesketh.demon.co.uk/index.htm It might be worth looking here too http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathway...sr_soldiers.htm I also believe Kew has a list of researchers. Tony

Those look like old D-Mark prices. When we changed to Euro I think the figures stayed the same, only the DM was replaced by ? making them twice as expensive overnight. Tony

I've just had a quick check and have only found this: James Sawrey aged 4 in 1901 Born Lancashire Kirkby In F Lancashire (don't know what F is) In the parish of Kirkby Ireleth Being artillery he might have just demobbed there what with Woolwich Arsenal being just down the road. Tony