Spasm

Isn't it great, difficult to get a well lit figure into such a bleak view but just so moving and easily surpasses that thousand words. Well worth a look through the IWM collection.

Every time our retired collector in Germany looks at his Welsh Chief Constable's cap, whether on his shelf or his website he can be proud that he stole it. What a tit.

Looks like they were harder to obtain in 1927 "it is not easy to get them as the German braves? are as proud of them as the British with the V.C."

And here's the outside. I've shined up the lacquer a bit to give it a well handled look but it makes the photos a bit more difficult.

What! Another Mr Plod a robber! Crushed, my world is falling apart. Which way do I look now........good grief. I'm off to join the Charlie Brown gang.

Having had a very pretty fairly good condition M16 across my painting desk a few weeks ago (The Sgt Daly helmet in another post) I mentally noted how it looked once cleaned up a bit and tried to replicate the look on this one. Here's the inside of the skirt before and after:

Guten whatsit Gents Another helmet. Thanks to Tony who supplied the helmet from a Somme marketplace a few weeks ago (Good Man) and thanks to Chris (Kaiser Bunker) for letting me use some of his pictures (another Good Man) and also thanks to the Admin Staff for letting me off of the DIY for a bit. Here's the helmet (an M16) as pictured in Tony's garden straight from the market and complete with price tag (although Tony did beat up the dealer a bit with his Junior School French) :

Ross Sorry about the bad news. I hate this. We research the stuff we own and buy on an impulse. I also assume most dealers have researched the stuff they are selling or how can they price for buying or selling. So, whether it's from someone's collection (as the seller said he had this in his collection for many years) or from a dealer we rely on their honesty. I know you are all going to say research, research and more research. As I do a bit of painting and drawing myself I know that I could produce things that would take people in, but I choose not to. These people choose to rob others. I've been robbed quite a few times and although I feel like paying them a very personal visit, I stay away from the shows/fairs that have these individuals selling as I wouldn't be able to help myself. You look like you are part of the long arm so stretch that arm out and get your German buddies to have a word or three.

I really like these two. I prefer these to your others as they aren't flash or overly shiny with gold bits. They sit really well together. I think its because I like the troopies look. Well done and all those expletives above.

And because its pouring with rain I can't get on with the restoration of the Willy Rohr helmet. (I considered doing the work inside but the risk of a severe beating from the Admin Staff is too great). I've done a few sketches, they are postcard size while the Normandy Para drops are a bit under A4 so they bash out pretty quickly

Gurka helmet all done

Thank you guys Here's one for the stormtroopers, weeny KuK water bottle, would only hold a cup full. Just enough for a throat wet after an exciting sprint or with something a bit stronger in it

Gents. Thank you. The Admin staff hasn't done much to the website of late. She's been talking of a complete overhaul while I'm tasked with 'getting on with stuff' artwise. That's obviously in between the massive amount of DIY required and lists of things to do that never seem to get any shorter. I'm off to inspect the Lion poo for bells and pepper.

Larry Thank you. Still a fair bit of work to do. A VC and Burma Star to add along with names dates etc. I'll post it when it's finished. In the mean time I've completed this one. No need for an explanation to our chums across the pond....especially those from Tennessee

Thanks very much Gents, praise from guys like the militaria experts you all are is very much appreciated. I've still a long way to go before I can put on that little exhibition/sale but am at least making a dent into where I'd like to be. I think I'm getting better at it as well. There's still quite a lot of water bottles to do along with Tony's help in getting a stack of relic helmets for me from some of the French markets. Thanks Tony, good man. Here's another which could still do with the Canadian flag adding I think

Paul Correctamundo, they do need a bit of tightening up so well spotted. 2/5 GR (FF)— the Second Battalion of the Fifth Gurkha Rifles , Frontier Force - popularly known as the 'VC paltan'. The battalion is called VC paltan because of the three Victoria Crosses awarded during the Burma campaign. I believe no other battalion has won the Britain's highest gallantry award three times - particularly in one sitting. Cheers Spaz

Here's a clue

Ayo Gorkhali !!!!

Jock It looks really good on the desk, Sort of finishes it off and makes everything complete.

To commemorate the centennial 888,246 ceramic poppies have been planted at the Tower of London — each one representing a British or Colonial casualty.... no idea what the archer is doing on the battlements

Harold Mugford was not expected to survive his dreadful wounds. He was in a critical condition when he was brought back to England, and underwent six operations. Both his legs were amputated above the knee and, in addition to the wound to his arm, shrapnel was removed from his hip, tongue and jaw. Despite his injuries and suffering, he remained cheerful - indeed "quite jolly" to use his mother's words. HRH King George V presented Harold Mugford with the Victoria Cross at an open-air investiture in the grounds of at Buckingham Palace on 3 July 1918. This was followed, in August, by a public presentation by the Mayor of East Ham of a cheque for £300, the proceeds of a fund raised in the Borough as a token of appreciation of the honour conferred upon him. Harold Mugford was discharged from the Army on medical grounds and married Amy Key at All Saints' Church, Forest Gate on 23 April 1919. He died on 16 June 1958 at the age of 63. He was afforded the honour of a military funeral in Chelmsford Cathedral, prior to cremation at the Southend Crematorium. Mrs Mugford died in 1978. They had no children. The Victoria Cross awarded to Harold Mugford was bequeathed, in Amy Mugford's will, to Furness Withy & Company Ltd., his pre-war employers, who had continued to pay her husband an ill health pension up to the time of his death. The medal is on long-term loan to the Imperial War Museum where it can be seen in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery.

Harold Mugford was born on 31 August 1894, he was a keen cricketer, enjoyed outdoor pursuits, and was a member of the Essex Yeomanry. He was mobilised in August 1914, and saw action in the Ypres Salient in the early part of 1915 and again at the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge where the Essex Yeomanry distinguished themselves. He was also with the Regiment at the Battle of Loos. During this time Harold was buried on no less than three occasions when high explosive shells exploded close to his post. The machine-gun detachment of the Essex Yeomanry, in which Mugford was then serving, was transferred to the 8th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) on 3 March 1916, although they remained attached to the Regiment. On 9 April 1917, the British First and Third Armies launched a major offensive on a 14-mile front from Vimy Ridge to Croisilles; the main thrust being in the central sector, east of Arras. The German front was broken and advances of nearly four miles were made in some places on the first day, and it seemed likely that a wider breakthrough might be achieved. Cavalry units were brought forward in the hope of exploiting the early success. Early on the morning of 11 April, the 8th Cavalry Brigade (of which the Essex Yeomanry formed part) were ordered to move forward and to capture the high ground on the east and north east of Monchy-le-Preux, which it was believed had been taken by infantry units of the 37th Division. Heavy enemy fire from the village of Roeux in the north forced a change in the direction of the Yeomanry's advance into Monchy itself. It was found that that although the enemy had withdrawn, the village was not defended and was under imminent threat of counter-attack. The Regiment therefore took steps to secure and hold the village. The Germans put down a heavy box-barrage on the village and brought up a large numbers of reinforcements during the day. The 8th Machine Gun Squadron helped to keep the attackers at bay, and it was the extraordinary bravery of Harold Mugford that earned him the Victoria Cross. The citation states: "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when under intense shell and machine-gun fire at Monchy-le-Preux, Lance Corporal Mugford succeeded in getting his machine-gun into a forward and very exposed position. From this point he was able to deal most effectively with the enemy, who were massing for counter-attack. His No 2 was killed almost immediately, and at the same moment he himself was severely wounded. He was then ordered to a new position and told to go to the dressing-station, but continued on duty with his gun, inflicting severe loss on the enemy. Soon after he was again wounded, a shell breaking both his legs. He still remained with his gun, begging his comrades to leave him and take cover. Shortly afterwards this non-commissioned officer was removed to the dressing-station where he was again wounded in the arm."