Spasm

Interesting, and without doubt it was a hard battle fought by very brave soldiers. But I don't get the comparison with Helmund province. Am I missing something?

Ooops too late

Bud Sorry, me not being very clear - www.findmypast.co.uk - is the site that have the Waterloo medal roll. You have to search in the roll using first and last names, it then gives you a list of all the Richard Smiths. As he's from the 73rd he'll be lower down the list (just in case you are paying as you go or you'll waste your credits searching every Richard Smith in the list). It'll show who was his Captain and what regiment he was in, nothing else, but it does confirm he was there. You can also purchase a printed certificate to display but it's new and made up by the site. To get access to original paperwork (or at least copies of them) - medal entitlements, (he may have others that he is entitled to particularly if he transferred from other regiments or stayed on in the army - most army personnel in those days did a few years unless they were killed, sick or injured), postings etc it would be worth contacting www.nationalarchives.gov.uk to get a copy of his discharge papers (costs only pence if you can find it yourself on their website - best of luck as it's a horrible unuser friendly website) which would give you a clue as to where to next look. There are contacts on their website if you would like someone to search for you (well worthwhile). Best of luck, let us know how you get on. Spaz

Bud The Waterloo medal roll (that the Royal Mint has in its collection) lists all that received the medal and includes who's company the recipient was in. Find my past website has the roll - you can buy access on a pay as you go basis. It will also have more details of Richard's life if you have the time to search Census and all military records. Ancestry will also have details if you spend the time to search - this site also costs. A free site is birth marriages and deaths (BMD free) but this will only be helpful once you've identified birth place, mum and dad etc. But it will show marriages and kids to help track things. It would be worth searching the National Archives for more details as they will have enlistment, muster rolls and discharge papers which will describe Richard, give details of pay, ranks, location depending on his discharge point. Either Chelsea or Kilmainham Hospital. The site is almost impossible to search out any details and you have to order copies of any paperwork you find. You can either book a visit (and tell them beforehand what you are looking for) or get them to do a search for you. It takes some time but is usually well worth the wait. Private searchers will also do this for you and are much quicker but more expensive. You can find them fairly easily on the web. Although we already know he was 2nd Btn of the 73rd and there is a fair amount of info available available on the net. They eventually amalgamated with the 42nd to form the Royal Highland Regiment or better known as The Black Watch. Loads to find out, keep hold of the medal, it's proper British history. I wish it were mine. Good luck Spaz

Something heroic like this - It might fit

Ah well, that's a bit of a sore point with some on here. I promised Mervyn that I'd do some pictures for his Bobby Book and although I never promised I did try to do some photo stuff for Paul R. Both never materialised . So I suppose it depends what it is. When I get the SA helmet from Mervyn I will do something on it along the lines of above (maybe he will give away as a prize along with the water bottle I've got on the shelf awaiting the winner). Is it like a song request or an idea or something you'd like me to do for you. Ideas are good, something for you would be ok as long as its something I can do but a song is out of the question. Spaz

Cheers Frank - I wish I could but they fly away into the land of ebay

Reyes The medal looks pretty good to me although the ring clip looks to have been re-soldered and may not be original. The medal may have been "broached" at some time, hence the missing ring and ribbon and what looks to be telltale signs around the rim. In hand to a medal collector will quickly tell. The Waterloo Medal Roll has Richard Smith in the 2nd Battalion 73rd Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Regt) - which checks with the inscription - in Captain John Pike's Company. The 73rd had Dark Green facings and Gold lace. The 2nd/73rd Foot fought in the Battle of Quatre Bras two days before Waterloo. They lost 53 men killed and wounded. At the Battle of Waterloo itself, the regiment was charged by French Cavalry no less than 11 times during the battle and bombarded by French artillery. It remained in square without breaking. The 2nd/73rd lost 6 officers and 225 men killed and wounded, the second heaviest casualties suffered by a line infantry regiment, after the 1st 27th (Inniskillings) which lost 450 out of 700 men in holding their square and Wellington's line. After Waterloo the battalion was part of the Army of Occupation in Paris before moving back to England. The 2nd Battalion disbanded in 1817 sending 300 men to the 1st Battalion in Trincomalee. I'm sure those with access to Ancestry will be able to give you more details on Richard, also the many medal experts on here will help with the medal. Spaz

Interesting stuff Lots of chariots for sale - can't see if there is a GT bladed wheels model for sale - one lady owner. What about the article where a lady was accosted by a man wearing a long false beard and mustachios - was it Christmas?

Thankee very muchly

And an M34? ammo box from Narva. Box is dated 1939 mostly original paint and mud except for the bits I've added

Another WW1

Just finished a few more and before they get new wings

elbows

The Southampton newspaper articles on the court trial It actually says Woolley Bully - now I know where the song originates

more elbows

yes sorry

sorry agaion

This is what that stuff does. The photos are in series from a very short film that we made on one of my tunnel jobs. I could only get half of the blast on the 25% speed film. You can clearly see the tunnel temporary works while the tunnel progressed. Essentially the same gear was used as in Chris' picture above. Drill a load of holes, stick in some dynamite, set electronic fuses and bang! Go back down, dig out the rock and start all over. 2 years to drill and blast a tunnel about half a mile long 80 metres below Bristol town centre (no damage at all to the historic 17th and 18th century buildings above). Good job. The last picture shows how the perspex box, the camera was in, broke. Now I wonder what Chris is gonna do with his. Be careful mate.

Think Chris got it. The picture is the right way round (the lettering on the M136 is upside down so you can read it knelt on the ground). Here's one showing the right side feed and Mervyn's new sword stick and door opening gadget.

He must be carrying a whole heap of barrels (and ammo come to that).

Blimey, what is that they are firing just out of shot? There seems to be at least one live round in there too.

It's the 1st, 5th and 7th Marine Regiments of the 1st Marine Division who landed on the Peleliu beach at 08.30 on 15 September 1944. 73 days later the island was declared secure (although some 35 Japanese held out in caves until 22 April 1947). The 1st Marine Division suffered over 6,500 casualties in their one month stay on Peleliu, over one third of the entire Division and remained out of action until 1 April 1945.

Didn't realise the size of pictures I load in. When they are opened they are actually larger than the lifesize helmet (maybe thats different depending on your screen size). It still needs a bit of work now that I look.