Tony

Hello all, I have had this EK for well over a year now and have believed it to be a 100% conversion/trasitional type cross since I bought it (and still do). I?m going to have to part with this cross as I spent too much money on a gallantry group last month, so, I?d like to hear if any of you have seen one like this before and your opinions before selling it. It?s the usual 3 piece magnetic cross, it rattles in the frame and there are no rough edges around the very tiny holes drilled in the frame. Cheers Tony

Thanks for the confirmation Dan, I really wished I knew who owned it as it's a family piece that no one knew about. Tony

Jef, Thanks for that, those pictures look exactly like the one I have, the measurements differ slightly though. The complete length is indeed 264mm without the scabbard, but the blade is only 147mm (3mm here, 3mm there). As the scabbard is a perfect match for the one you posted, I do believe I have a pukka unmarked fighting knife. I'd have been well chuffed if it was 100% Great War period though. Tony

So you don't think it's a standard kitchen knife then? I'm just wondering if was done post war for hunting or something. Tony

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Hello, Is this a trench dagger? The scabbard has been made to hook on the boot, belt or similar and it appears to have been done a long time ago but the grips look unused. Could it be from the Great War, between the wars, 2nd World War or post 1945? There are no markings on the blade or grips. Thanks Tony

Thanks RJ. I did find quite a bit on the Cameron Highlanders but didn't think there'd be a connection especially as the soldier in question was from Ireland. I've driven through Le Transloy so many times, the next time I'm in the area I'll stop and take a look around. Thanks again Tony

?22 is a very good price I think. My one belonged to my g Grandad. They had to pay to be entered in the book and I believe they made suggestions as to what should be written, but I don't know if he paid for it. There's no price inside. I noticed at the weekend that I have section III parts A and B on cd. Tony

Were those awarded to allied countries named? Tony

Leigh, I came across this bloke today and was wondering if he has anything to do with your family - he was from Walworth.

I'm not too sure how much of this set up is original as the backing plate appears to be quite thin. The actual stripes are 100% though. Still, it's a nice twice wounded set. Tony

For Canadians.

Hello, I?m trying to find out where the 43rd Manitoba Battalion was in October 1916. After searching half the night on the net, I found out they were probably on the Somme and that all members of the CEF with no known grave are remembered on the Vimy Memorial, no matter where they were killed/reported missing. The actual soldier I?m looking for in the 43rd is 159286 Desmond Robert Ashe (killed 8.10.16), I have his attestation paper and a print out of the roll of honour but would like to know where he was killed (whereabouts of the 43rd in Oct. 1916), so if anyone can help me, please do. Thanks Tony

Obverse

My first Memorial Cross bought from Dave B the other week. It's cased but lacking the ribbon and has the Caron brothers stamp on the reverse. Desmond Robert Ashe was from Killarney and was considered fit for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on 16.11.15. He served as a member of the 43rd Battalion, Manitoba Regiment and was killed on 8.10.16, he's remembered on the Vimy Memorial. He must have only arrived in France a few months before being killed. Desmond had previously served in the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. Where was the Manitoba Regiment in October 1916, in the Vimy area or just a bit further south on the Somme, does anyone know? Tony

On his service record under the 39-45 Star, his regimental number is followed by a V which isn't stamped on the medals. Tony

Does anyone know what the 'V' after his number denotes?

Roeselarestraat in Zonnebeke looking towards the junction of Ieperstraat and Langemarkstraat.

The church in Passchendaele; probably around 1916/17 and today.

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side entrance

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St. Martin's

Today, well, the day before yesterday.

Here are some then and now photos taken in Ypres and Passchendaele the other day. There was a fair on the Grote Markt so I couldn't get as good a picture as I wanted of the hospital.