Tony

Thanks Graham, nice pic you have there too. Do you think my photo may be from the Boer War period?

This last picture shows some men of an English volunteer Battalion at rest, they also have that been to the front look about them. Tony (Thanks for the correction Graham)

The second shows a big Yank, a member of the RFA seated and what could be a member of the Tank Corps. The badge isn't clear enough for me to tell. On a side note, can it be said if the Doughboy is a foot soldier or mounted going by his uniform? The photo was taken in England but all 3 have that 'look' seen so often of troops who have served on the front in F/F.

A close up.

I've picked up a few nice cards lately and need some help with a couple of cap badges. The first one shows 2 Empire troops with cap comforters. Can anyone ID the badge? I was wondering if they could be Gurkas or troops from India/Ceylon but have no idea really. Any help is much appreciated.

Hello, I bought this postcard recently and was wondering if there is any way to tell which unit the US soldier was in? I can't make out any badges etc. but can anyone say if he is mounted or a foot slogger going by his uniform? The Brits appear to be Tank Corps (I could be wrong) and Royal Field Artillery and rather smaller than their ally from across the Atlantic. Unfortunately the photo isn't named or dated but would guess it's from training before going to France and dates from mid/late 1917 to 1918. I suppose it could even be a post Nov.18 photo. Tony

Being a fan of the Brit Old Bill (Bruce Bairnsfather) books, I'm looking forward seeing more. Tony

Hello Paul, Great of you to make this offer. I have one RN SWB but won't have it back in my hands until Christmas so will give you a shout in a couple of months. Tony

Maybe they were destined for the French on the Somme Those 1990s prices are a bit high too. Where is the attic? We could have a rummage for some Boer War chocolate tins.

Well, knowing nothing about US uniforms I'd ask myself why get a uniform made in Paris and then never wear it. No staining under the armpits etc. from what I can see. The cloth patches have no marks/staining whatsoever, they're very clean and look to me as if stitched by hand (I'm no tailor though). Wouldn't a tailor have an old singer or something? If the uniform was cheap and I collected US militaria I'd probably go for it but, if I wanted the real thing I'd something to back the ebay description up. Having friends at Manions puts me off too. Hopefully someone with knowledge in this area can give a better answer. Tony

Well done Brian. I did the same once on ebay with a pair of medals being sold separately and ended up paying much too much just to keep them together. I visited the cemetery at Hardecourt-aux Bois a couple of years ago, I have a casualty Star to 17 year old buried there. It's a small cemetery quite a way from the more familiar names on the Somme. Tony

My step father's dad has the same as Gordon's dad apart from the F & G Star. He received his medals only to throw them in the bin shortly afterwards. Being unnamed, I bought replacements and they now hang mounted in a frame with his photo. Are yours swing mounted Gordon? Quick edit - he wasn't TA either so only has 5 medals.

Did you mount them yourself Gordon or have it done? Very nice to have one named medal in there. No one in my family wanted their medals but I was lucky enough to get my grandad's group re-issued in the early 90s. All unnamed of course but nice to have the issue slip in his name. Was it unusual to do Africa, Italy and France/Germany or was he at Dunkirk too? Tony

You should maybe read Kitchener's Mob, it's a great book written by a US citizen who volunteered to serve with the British army, I think he volunteered in 1915. Tony

I downloaded the archive a number of months ago but can't remember where or how I did it. This link may be of help for the time being http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.regiments.org Tony

The chinstrap appears to be very similar in design to the Great War Austrian steel helmet. I know absolutely nothing about these helmets but can imagine they're very rare especially in such good condition. Tony

It would say clasp & roses or similar on his MIC. He may have just hung out in Le Havre during his first 3 weeks or so in France or St. Omer even. You could try asking someone to copy the unit diary from the NA but it'll cost money. He could also have been on rear party for whatever reason while his mates were on the way to Ypres. This may be of some help http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/3cavdiv.htm Tony

Indeed.

There was also a D/812 Fred Ball 3rd Dragoon Guards who was awarded the BWM & VM so I wonder if he was really FW Ball or WF Ball? Tony

CC3 is the medal roll number, the entry for W Ball is on page 6. His BWM and VM must be on another MIC I'd have thought. Tony

I've been past there so often but have never stopped. One of those things I wished I had done before moving further away. Tony

They're not wearing ear plugs. I bet they'll be listening to lots of whistling afterwards and saying "do what mate?" quite often.. Tony

Hello Jaybo, I have one plaque with frame which has a very fancy design (in my opinion) compared to the plain round frames. I don't think they're being made today but if they were it wouldn't surprise me. I have seen modern cases, resembling a kind of coin or medal case, made to fit plaques. Tony

I agree with Kev, if they're going to issue something it should be along the lines of the wounded stripe. There's no need to copy any kind of medal from another country. Canada reinstated the wounded stripe so if we're going to copy someone, let it be them. Robin, the SWB or Silver War Badge was mainly issued to anyone discharged under King's regs. for illness or wounds, I believe the majority were issued to men leaving due to sickness. My g grandad received one for pneumonia during the Great War and also the cheaper made non silver version during WWII, only I don't know the reason for his discharge the second time. Tony

Have sent a pm. Cheers Tony