Tony

Has anyone had a go at preserving an old piece of wood that's been underground for a good few years? I was thinking of some 00 wirewool and a coating of linseed oil or maybe rubbing in some beeswax, but at the same time I don't want it losing that been in a tunnel the past 100 years look. Thanks for any suggestions. Tony

Dave, I have an EKI 14 to a doctor and always imagined he would've received the non-com. ribbon with his EKII, thanks for putting me right with the above comment.

Thanks for adding the details Rob, it now makes me wonder if it could have been repaired by a jeweller. Tony

Rob, That's interesting to hear you believe your Brit. VM with ball suspender is British made, but unnamed I imagine. Do you think it was made as a replacement or for the collectors? Tony

Great write up and reminded me of a medal group I have to a man killed in the firing line near Hooge, the day before Koopmann was wounded.

Nice! I used to have lots to do with Ypres including the remains of a gound dug pickelhaube and a 14 Star to a man taken POW in October 1914. I probably still have some bits and pieces somewhere.

Try applying here https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records You'll need to fill out a Request Form and a Search Form but if you don't have your grandfather's service number you might not get far. The search form does stipulate service number and/or date of birth must be included. Another problem could be payment, when I applied for my grandfather's record I had to arranged for a relative in the UK to make payment for me as it had to be in Sterling.

Do you know this site? https://www.weltkriegs-ehrenkreuz.de/schriftstücke-fotos/trägerfotos/ The Ehrenkreuz site also shows copies of pages from some makers including various sword attachments but no photos of the medal being worn with swords on the ribbon. Just guessing here but I think it's possible someone just wanted a bit more bling, or perhaps the swords were added at a much later date?

Hello, I’d be really grateful if someone can help me out here. The April 1916 Verlustlisten shows three men from Mittlere Minenwerfer Abteilung 199 who, having been listed as missing since September 1915 are now shown as being prisoners. http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/3036293 Uffz. Max Senf’s POW card states he was captured at Somme-Py, the card for Arthur Kaiser shows he was captured in the Champagne rather than a definite town or village but I can find nothing about the other man on the ICRC site. I’ve tried cross referencing with some of the men listed as missing after a French attack back in 1915 http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/3036288 to see if Bueschenfeld was held with them but am not having any luck finding where he may have been held POW. Is there anyone who knows more about the ins and outs of searching for German soldiers who can help find him? Thanks Tony

Ooooh that's a tough one! Could it be a poorly stamped WS shown upside down in your photo? Do you know this site http://www.kaisersbunker.com/stuff/1914_EK2_makers.htm I didn't see anything there to answer your question but it's a good reference site for all things WWI involving gear worn by the CEF, the RFC as well as German uniforms and headgear. Tony

You can download his service record at the Brit national archives for a few bucks http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6941554 It might not be exciting, date of discharge and ships served on etc. but knowing the ships will give a clue to any sea battles or patrols he took part in.

I'm with Peter, the last one is a cracker and must've been difficult to get back into shape.

Apart from having a lot of experience with German docs, what's the major sign you see? Is it the rubber stamp, the handwriting or the poor looking quality print? All three look dodgy to me but I only have one or two German docs.

He gave his NOK address as 26 East Newell Ave., Rutherford when in the RAF so that'll be where you got the US address.

Mate, definitely worth going there yourself otherwise you'll always be wondering if you really did receive the whole file or not.

If you have WO374/51003 is there no indication at all of the unit he served with while overseas? This doesn't help your search but I imagine you've seen the London Gazette entry stating he's to be 2nd Lieutenant 9/6/15. I had a quick look at the 1939 register, it gives his occupation as Army RGA retired and ARP Dover DC, is there perhaps anything to do with the RA in Dover where he may have worked behind a desk? If so it might be worthwhile asking there, that's if he's the correct GF Nuthall.

You've done a good job there, it looks great. Vintage bottles is an idea or even something like the label on Poilu beer, I'll have to keep 'em peeled.

Francois, do you know the meaning of EV 1916 on his ID tag? Tony

Here you go mate, it works for me won't be everyone's cup of tea.

You could try here https://www.dd-wast.de/de/startseite.html Would you be able to get any info from the ICRC http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/Museum-and-archives/Resources-for-researchers/Records-of-prisoners-of-war Or here http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/prisoners-of-war-british-hands/

Are you just painting the helmets or making them half scale too? I've started to cut down wine bottles to use as helmet stands as I find it quicker, easier and more fun. The bag of old glass is easier to carry too when only the top third of the bottles are in it.

I don't know much about French ID tags but think this type came into use about mid 1918, authorised in May 1918. However, the way it's stamped makes it appear to me to be tag used much later. 1916 should indicate the class year but I believe EV indicates a volunteer rather than a conscript. I have no literature to back this up, it just things I've heard in the past. Here's a site with a few examples pictured http://militarianominatif.forumactif.org/t87-les-plaques-d-identite-mle-1918-francaises Hopefully someone can give you a better reply. Tony

It's lucky you bought it otherwise that lining might have ended up inside the lid of an old cutlery box ..... That would be absolutely shocking.

Yeah I don't think you'd find anything better, really nice.

I've only ever seen the French former POW badge, I should try to get out more. Did you notice the glider pilot POW territorial medal on Brit ebay recently? I wondered if you or Rob bought it.