kingsman64

So a guy in work who knows I am a medal collector says to me would you like my Grandfather's medals. Pretty standard WW2 British group with cap badge, photograph and issue document.How much do you want I asked, nothing he said I have no kids no family I was going to bin them! Look I said I will give you £45 that way I am getting a good deal and you can have a few beers. So he drops them off oh by the way there are a few German badges in the tin he picked up. Nice M43 badge, fortification maintenance badge, and a very nice maker marked Bevo Wuppertal skijager badge. Happy days.

Wow thank you for adding this extra fascinating information much appreciated.

Hope this works?

One of the Skoda R2 tanks of the Romanian 1st Tank battalion knocked out by Russian Artillery Odessa August 1941.

Dear Forum Had to share this amazing Romanian Tank Commanders grouping with original award documents to acting Lieutenant Colonel Gheorghe Spirescu who was killed in action on the 18th August 1941 during the battle of Odessa. I believe that I have correctly identified the awards as the Order of the Star of Romania on the military virtue ribbon for bravery in the face of the enemy, and the order of the Crown of Romania Knights cross with swords again on the military virtue ribbon for bravery in the face of the enemy. As you can see they represent a casualty group as clearly the citation for the Order of the Crown states "post mortem" so awarded after death. These two awatds represent the second and third highest awards for military gallantry in the face of the enemy in WW2. I have traced the action that saw Lt. Col become a casualty. The battle for Odessa 1941 August 18. At dawn, the I and III army corps launch offensive, without artillery preparation. The 3rd Infantry Regiment of the 11th Infantry Division carries fierce fights to take Karpova railway station. At 6.30 AM the tank battalion of the 1st Armoured Division joins the battle. Entering enemy positions without infantry, they suffers heavy casualties, including the commander of the armoured infantry battalion Lieutenant Colonel Gheorghe Spirescu. In detail action of the 18/08/1941 The following day (18 August), before dawn, the 3rd Corps launched the offensive, without artillery preparation, in order to achieve surprise. The 3rd Dorobanti Regiment of the 11th Infantry Division carried out fierce fights to take the Karpova railway station. At 0630 hours a tank battalion of the 1st Armored Regiment joined the battle, but because of the poor cooperation with the infantry suffered heavy losses (32 tanks taken out of action and 3 officers killed). Shortly afterwards, the railroad station was also attacked with an assault battalion of the 11th Infantry Division, backed by tanks. By 0700 hours the Soviet resistance ceased. The 37th Infantry Regiment reached the northern edge of Mikhaylovka, but could not advance further. The 14th and 16th Dorobanti Regiments were caught under crossfire from Mikhaylovka and Karpova and took heavy losses. Both regiment commanders were wounded. Until the evening, the 7th Infantry Division managed to penetrate 1-1.5 km in the enemy lines, while the 11th and 3rd Divisions advanced 800-1000 m. At the 1st Corps, the Frontier-guard Division penetrated 7 km deep, reaching a position east of Tolmachev. The 5th Frontier-guard Regiment took the Kagarlik Mansion and pushed back the Soviet forces east of the Baraboy creek. Maj. Constantin Vladescu received the Mihai Viteazul Order 3rd class for this action. The Guard Division attacked at Kagarlik and Mannheim, but could not brake into the villages. At Blonskoye, the 9th Dorobanti Regiment attacked at 0300 hours without artillery preparation and carried out dramatic fights with the 241st Soviet Rifle Regiment at Hill 110. East of the Hadjibey Bank, the offensive was launched at 1000 hours, after a 20 minutes artillery preparation, with the Tactical Group "Colonel Poenaru" (35th Infantry Regiment backed by the 25th Artillery Battalion and the 3rd Battalion of the 23rd Artillery Regiment) on the direction 2 km east of Mal. Buzhalik - 2 km southeast Staraya Dofinivka, and the 1st Cavalry Brigade on the direction Buldynka - Chebanka. Eye witness account of the death of Major Gheorghe Spirescu 1st tank battalion. Born in 1901 in a family with six children, Major Gheorghe Spirescu followed his father in choosing a military career. Being a perfect military cadet, he attended the courses of the Sibiu School of Infantry Officers, he graduated in 1921, then worked as a young officer in several units, culminating in being promoted among the military cadres of "Nicolae Filipescu" from Dealu Monastery. Subsequently, he became a tank officer with the 1st Battalion Tank Regiment, being delegated with Captain Nicolae Mitu, to represent the Romanian Army between 1936-1939 in the Skoda R-2 light tank evaluation and reception committee, the tanks were manufactured in Czechoslovakia. Major Gheorghe Spirescu was killed in action on the morning of August 18, 1941, around 4:25 am, in the attack on Karpova, battle of Odessa. Further combat details are in a written report from details from Sergeant Major Dumitru Vişan, also from Gura Şuţei, who was radio-telegraphist in 1941 on the battalion commander's tank Aurel Marinescu: "On the eve of the Karpova struggle, the circumstance made me hear some of the conversation between Major Spirescu with Lieutenant Colonel Christache Iliescu, Second Commander of the 1st Battle Regiment. The intensity of our artillery bombardment, commenced long before the time set for the attack, and the thoughts of the struggle that was going to take place, kept me awake all night on 17/18 August 1941. Major Spirescu's tank led the others, he passed by our tank, I experienced a thrill of excitement. About 5 o'clock in the morning, his open tank came in at high speed, going backwards. At the point of command, he stopped, and Lieutenant Morarerescu, the head of our rafotelegraphic school, who was in the crew of Major Major Spirescu's tank as the battalion commander of the battalion, left. Visibly excited, he shouted aloud for help. The Major went out for a short while from the turret of the tank with his head, to see better how the battalion tanks were placed for attack and whether or not they followed the directions set by him; he was exposed enough to be hit by a dum-dum shot by an enemy sniper. The bullet entered into the left eye of the eye in the cranium where it exploded. He started to exclaim, "Ah, you hit me! Major Gheorghe Spirescu was buried in the cemetery in Chisinau, together with the lieutenants Iancu Preda and Gheorghe Crânguş, who fell on duty in the same struggle in Karpova. As a sign of gratitude, the officials from Chisinau then gave the name of Major Gheorghe Spirescu to a street in the capital of Bessarabia.

I do like it when a simple fairly common lot is lifted by an unusual item, a diary a splendid photograph, a personal possesion or in this case a souvenir pick up in France which leaves a lot of unanswered questions! BWM/Victory/Defence medal awarded to Percy John Hallett Sgt. MGC on the pair later served in the Devons. John was born @1895 Seavington St Mary, near Chard in Somerset the 1911 Census finds him aged 16 working as a Farm Labourer at Whitelackington, Ilminster, Somerset. I have not been able to trace his service papers but the WW1 pick up makes a simple group by an unusual addition of a nice quality Turkish Harp Madalyasi. The lot came with a small contemporary handwritten note saying "Taken in exchange for cigarettes from a officer POW". The Harp Madalyasi is certainly Officer quality Silver plated and enamel, other ranks tend to be painted so it supports the "taken from an officer" claim it is also a nice BB&Co maker marked which I is Binder Brueder & Companie out of Luedenscheid. I am only guessing of course but I wonder if this was taken off a German Officer POW in France who had served in the Balkans? If only they could talk

I am sure you are right two brothers dying 8 weeks apart their mother probably made up both groups with a mixture to keep brothers together. That's my preferred view, but maybe she made a genuine mistake and just made up two groups based on the information on the back of the star. Amazing how many people do not even realise the BWM and Victory are named round the edge too!

I missed a lot during a live auction which would have been "on theme" bit annoyed with myself and then suddenly a picture of a WW1 trio appeared on the screen, it looked mounted for wear many years ago and was described as a 14-15 Star trio to E M Hall 8th Battalion C.E.F. Despite being very much a Liverpool Regiment collector I was aware of the distinguished war service of the Manitoba Regiment and felt the name may be an easy research option, so I had a punt and won the lot. I immediately did some initial research and discovered quickly that E M Hall was in fact a Casualty and had died on the 1st December 1918, just a few short weeks after the end of hostilities, the exact cause of death was initially unknown. Research was halted until the group arrived and when it did I had quite a shock! the medals had indeed been mounted for wear a long time ago but as you can see all was not as it first appeared. The 14-15 Star is correctly named to 1071 E M Hall 8 CAN INF as is the BWM, however the Victory medal is named to 150104 L Hall CMGC (Canadian Machine Gun Corps). What was going on? I got a coffee and settled down to hopefully solve the puzzle. 1st point of call was the C.W.G.C. website and confirmation that 1071 Edgar Montague Hall died in the UK on the 1st December 1918 and is buried in Seaford Sussex also that Edgar was the Son of the late Alfred George and Agnes Helen Hall, of Barmoor Farm, Great Marlow, England. Born at Naphill, High Wycombe, England 23/05/1881. Now for L Hall was he also a casualty? Indeed 150104 Leonard Hall 1st Battalion CMGC is recorded as having Died of wounds 02/10/1918 and is buried IV C 16 BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, FICHEUX. Frustratingly no mention of next of kin. I turned to the Canadian CEF Registers and the mystery was solved, well partly. These records confirmed that Edgar Montague Hall born in Buckinghamshire in 1881 was indeed the older brother of one Leonard Hall born in Buckinghamshire 1895 both registers showing next of kin as Mrs A G Hall (mother) of Barmoor Farm Great Marlow Buckinghamshire. Further details obtained from the registers are that Edgar died in the great influenza epidemic that swept Europe at the end of WW1 dying in the No14 Canadian Military Hospital Eastbourne of Influenza Lobar Pneumonia. Leonard had already died of his wounds Gun Shot Wounds Legs and abdomen when he arrived at the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station. So mysterey solved my missmatched trio appears to have been done deliberately? At least I would like to think so and there is another trio out there with the opposite configuration. Either way it feels humbling to hold a trio made up of two brothers medals who made the ultimate sacrifice who appear to have been united together for ever. I would of course be delighted to hear from anybody who has the opposite group!

Dear Forum I love the fact that this hobby of ours can reawaken the memory of a forgotten soul. Indeed the bottom of the World War 1 Casualty scroll states: LET THOSE THAT COME AFTER SEE TO IT THAT HIS NAME BE NOT FORGOTTEN Sadly with the passage of time the death of next of kin or the kind of apathy from descendants that I will never really understand, they are often forgotten. We however as collectors, do get the opportunity to be temporary custodians of history and in that time remember, record and pay our own tribute to the fallen and the survivors those who served and returned. My hope is that my efforts in research and the respect I show will carry forward to the next custodian of my collection, hopefully in many years time! So please forgive the long post and indulge me this is a story worth telling. I was delighted last week to receive a WW1 British War Medal, Victory Medal pair and Casualty plaque. Described in the auction catalogue thus: "Pair WWI service medals to 2nd Lieutenant W R G Mills together with Death plaque to the same" Nothing more no notes, no history, no basic research nothing at all, so to put the record straight here is William Robert Granville Mills story. WILLIAM ROBERT GRANVILLE MILLS (BILLY), the eldest child of Granville Mills, of the Public Works Department India, and Cordelia his wife, was born at Secunderabad, Deccan, on December 31st, 1897. He was educated at l'Ecole de l'Ile de France, Liancourt, France, at Hartford House, Winchfield (Mr. Lloyd's), and at Eagle House, Sandhurst (Mr. Lockhart's), where he obtained a Foundation Scholarship at Winchester College in June, 1911. Both at his preparatory schools and at Winchester he won many prizes. At Winchester, in 1913, he won the Headmaster’s Prize for French; in 1914, the Warden and Fellows' Prize for English Verse; and in 1915 the Warden and Fellows' Prize for English Essay. He was a College Prefect and played in College fifteens and ran well in Junior and Senior Steeplechase. At Christmas, 1915, he was elected to the Senior Classical Scholarship at Christ Church, Oxford. On leaving Winchester he was given a commission in the Royal Field Artillery, Special Reserve, and was gazetted in February, 1916. On June 30th, 1916, he went to the front and was there all through the battle of the Somme and at Contalmaison, Martinpuich, Mametz Wood, and Le Sars. The Battery moved to the Ypres Salient and he was home on leave from January 5th to January 15th, 1917. Returning to Ypres, he was killed by a shell in the front line trench on the afternoon of February 16th, 1917. He was buried next day at Transport Farm, Zillebecke. Billy was just 19 years old his grief stricken father gathered his poetry and his letters home to his beloved mother and the letters of condolence and sympathy received from the front. He had them private published in a small volume “The poems and letters of W R G Mills”. I have managed to find a digital copy on line but of course would love to find a copy of the original work to place side by side with his medals and plaque. If anybody should find a copy of this small volume anywhere for sale please let me know immediately. Letters sent to his parents from the front THE COMMANDING OFFICER No doubt by this time you will have heard from the War Office of your sad loss. I am dreadfully sorry to have to confirm it. Your son was killed this afternoon whilst doing his duty. He is a great loss to me. He was a most promising and trustworthy young officer and I cannot tell you how much it grieves me to have to write of his death to you. I can only convey to you my most sincere sympathy and regret. FROM HIS BATTERY MAJOR I was very sorry indeed to hear the sad news, and I am sure you have my deepest sympathy. All this happened while I was away from the battery, and it was a bitter blow to me when I heard that I had lost two of my best officers. During the time your son served under my command he proved himself a very capable officer. On several occasions he accompanied me on very difficult and dangerous operations. I really cannot speak too highly of his gallantry and untiring work. He died a noble death while performing a very difficult task. He was very popular with the men and I am sure they will miss him very much. He learnt his work as acting officer very quickly, and I could always rely on him to carry out any task that was given him, I can candidly say he was a most brilliant officer. We all miss him very much. I am sure you must have been very proud of your son, for he was a real good boy. FROM A BROTHER OFFICER It is with very deep regret that I write to you concerning the death of your son, who was killed in action yesterday. He was in the front line observing with the captain when an enemy shell burst in the trench near them. He was buried this morning in the Military Cemetery by our Chaplain, who knew him at Winchester, the Colonel and as many officers and men of the Brigade as could possibly be spared attended, the officers and men and myself deeply sympathise with you in your bereavement. We feel keenly the loss of our comrade, who was a most efficient and trustworthy officer, and a great favourite with us all. FROM THE CHAPLAIN I feel that I would like to be allowed to write to you a few lines, as being the Chaplain to the artillery in this Division, in which your son was serving, partly to tell you how very sorry we all are, and also to tell you one or two things which I feel sure that you would like to know. My own acquaintance with your boy went back to the days before he came out here, when he was at Winchester. I was working at the Winchester College Mission in Portsmouth, and being a Wykehamist myself and also in College, used very often to see him when I was over at the School. I can't remember now, whether he ever actually came to spend a week-end at the Mission with us; my impression is that he did. Then he came out here and joined this Division, and it was so very delightful to find him carrying out the same habits and principles which no doubt he had learnt at home and at school. As perhaps you know, it is not easy for those who work with the guns to get many opportunities of Church Services: they are always working, and it is often unsafe to gather the men together for services. But when we did have them, he was always present; and I remember so well, at Christmas, the Holy Communion Service which we held in the 10ft of a big barn (we were resting for a week before coming into the line here), and he was one of the little group who came for their Christmas Communion. I think that was probably the last chance that he had out here, as ever since then his battery has been continually engaged. He was always quiet and a little reserved; but I have heard so many comments during the last few days with regard to the excellence of his work; and I am sure that his ·example and influence with the men must have been for good. I hope you will not mind my writing to you. I would just like to add this, if I may, that there must surely be a great future of usefulness for his gifts and powers in God's service in the new sphere to which he has gone. FROM HIS SERVANT Excuse me these few lines, but I thought that I could not let this pass without sending my personal sympathy in your great sorrow, for as I was packing up his personal belongings I could not help but think of you and the one we both have lost, and I hope and trust you get all his things quite safe. As he was a dutiful son to you, he was a great friend and master to me, and I shall never forget him as long as life lasts. FROM THE MEN IN THE BATTERY I have been in the Mess just about as long as Mr. Mills would have been with us, remembering quite well when he joined us. Yes, he was liked immensely, and we often recall many little -episodes of his cheery ways and his undisturbed demeanor. We miss him very much indeed. These times we could well have done with the work of Mr. Mills, I assure you. All the drivers say how he has been missed by them and also the gunners. He used to break into a song every morning as soon as he awoke, and then the saying used to go: 'Hello, here comes Billy!' (Excuse the familiar word ' Billy'). It was always the same song: 'If you we’re the only girl in this world and I were the only boy. FROM THE HEADMASTER, WINCHESTER Your boy was such a very gentle, peace-loving fellow that his sacrifice comes with an additional shock. His photo, which you sent me, has kept him continually before me and I feel as if I had lost a very near friend. One could not but love the boy -he was so genuine and pure and honourable. I suppose what struck me most was the way in which he went forward and went out without a murmur of doubt or hesitation. He had lots of grit behind his gentle manner and a really fine-cut character. Assuredly it is well with the child. How wonderful and devoted is the service of these boys and how it wins the hearts of all kinds of men. I do praise God for your boy's good service: such things help us all. FROM THE DEAN OF CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD May I take this opportunity of saying how deeply sorry I am that he has not lived to take up his Scholarship here. I did not know him, but I remember that our examiners were well pleased at the election they had made, and would have looked forward to his coming here with great hopefulness. FROM THE HEADMASTER OF HIS PREPARATORY SCHOOL I was very fond of Billy and had the greatest opinion of his ability and of his determined character. I always think he was the best boy I ever taught in all my more than thirty years’ experience. I always like to think of his big strong calm head and face as he took up the points of difficulty and his excellent clear English in which he rendered the Latin authors, I don't know which is the greater grief, to think that I shall never have the pleasure of welcoming him here again, or to think of the cutting off of that brilliant career which I am sure lay before him-a grievous loss to his country, both in public and in private life Now a final word from a talented scholar a bright young talent extinguished like so many others in the war to end all wars. A poem by W. R. G. Mills Over the marsh where the wild pigs wallow Over the fiats where the curlews cry Over the green-black bog Will I follow under a purple sky Into the land of the last, awaking Into the land of the last long rest Into the land where the waves are breaking Over the shores of the west There may I seek for the end of sorrow There may I find the long, day done There may I rest in the shade' of tomorrow Under the setting sun REST IN PEACE BILLY, NOT FORGOTTEN

Yes of course! Thanks for the reminder Paul. Home on leave couple of pints with a chum then catapulted head first into a telegraph pole having survived WW1 and Persia.

I have had a rather resounding success today in preventing a medal group being split at auction I purchased two 14-15 Trios 1 RAMC and 1 King's Own Royal Lancaster and then managed many lots later to purchase the G.S.M IRAQ to: 11425 Lance Corporal Thomas Lowes K.O.R.L Later Private Ordnance Corps S/9604 Later Acting Sergeant Army Ordnance Corps 7575160 MIC confirms one and the same man and the issue of the 14-15 Trio and G.S.M. Iraq. While I was not surprised at the split (different number and regiment) the auction house had clearly not checked very carefully as there can not be many T. Lowes, not a common name. While awaiting delivery I began my usual research his service number puts him in the 6th Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and then with a simple Google search this! http://s574.photobucket.com/user/Doodle1964/media/146115528_1430927725_zps1mvmbymz.jpg.html Transcript from the headstone reads: To the memory of 7575160 Lance Corporal Thomas Lowes Royal Army Ordnance Corps Who was accidentally killed on 8th March 1924 aged 31 years 10 months “Erected by his comrades of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps at Bovington Camp – R.I.P.” Appears that Thomas having survived WW1 and Iraq lost his life in a tragic accident in the UK. A trawl of online newspaper archives finds This: Western Gazette 14 March 1924: SOLDIER'S TRAGIC END WHILST PILLION RIDING Lance-Corporal Thomas Lowes (aged 31), of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (No. 18 Section), Bovington Camp, whose home was at Newcastle, was killed instantaneously, on the Dorchester-road, Winfrith, on Saturday owing to changing his position whilst riding on a motor-cycle, which caused the machine to skid. Deceased either fell or was thrown off the cycle into the hedge against a telegraph pole, striking it with his head, which caused a fractured skull and a fractured arm and other injuries. THE CORONER'S INQUIRY Dr C.H. Watts Parkinson, the coroner for East Dorset, held an enquiry respecting the case on Monday, at the Military Hospital, Bovington (to which the body had been removed). Formal evidence of identification was given by Isaac Alfred Taylor, a lance-corporal of the R.A.O.C. Deceased, he said, was a single man of steady disposition. James Rendle Penn, a lance-corporal of the same section as deceased, who was driving the bicycle (a 3½h.p. Triumph), stated that deceased was an old friend, with whom he had come home from Constantinople. On Saturday afternoon, at two o'clock, he left for Dorchester with the deceased on the carrier. They arrived at the county town about an hour later. They went round the town and had drinks there. They left Dorchester about 3.30 to return to camp, and about 4.10, when about half-a-mile from Winfrith, he saw a light car ahead. The car kept to the left and witness to the right, travelling about 23 miles an hour, deceased riding astride on the pillion. Deceased appeared to move his position, causing the bicycle to skid. Witness tried to keep the bicycle under control, but it mounted the grass by the side of the road, and he was thrown. He was dazed, and when he recovered he found that the occupants of the car had stopped, and were examining the deceased. They told witness he was dead. Joseph Fooks, dairyman, and Fred Budden, of Steeple, the latter of whom was driving the car home from market, also gave evidence. Mr Fooks, who had been given a lift, said they left Dorchester about 3.30 p.m. Mr Budden's young son was sitting in the front with his father, and witness's father was riding behind with him. They were travelling about 18 to 20 miles an hour, when the bicycle was heard behind. Mr Budden drew into the left hand side of the road. The bicycle passed on the right side, and when eight or ten yards ahead witness saw the pillion rider sway to the right, and he seemed to throw his arms round the driver. The bicycle mounted the grass, on which it ran about ten yards, when the front wheel dropped into a somewhat deep water-table, the rear wheel rose up and threw deceased against the telegraph post. Witness considered the accident was due to the pillion rider swaying to the right. P.C. Spiller's information was to the effect that he found the deceased had been placed in a field. His face and head were covered with blood. Deceased's cap was in the field over the hedge. The distance from this point to where the motor-cycle stopped was 13 yards 2 feet, and the width of the road was 18ft 2½in. Shortly after the accident Dr Anderson, of Winfrith, happened to be passing by, but he could only pronounce life to be extinct. The motor-cycle (B.K.5,336) was slightly damaged. The Coroner returned a verdict of "Accidental death" So a tragic death for a WW1 veteran home on leave, a few beers and a fateful ride back to camp. Medals now back together http://s574.photobucket.com/user/Doodle1964/media/Medal%20Forum/DSC_0201_zpsrbeqx8zo.jpg.html

Dear Forum just wanted to share the outcome of my latest research project. I am again really pleased to have been able to uncover the story of the man behind the medals and accurately record his service and ultimately his untimely and sad demise. I recently purchased a nice condition mounted for wear Q.S.A. and 14-15 Trio to W A Harvey Pte. 6897 Manchester Regiment on the Q.S.A. TS-4990 Driver. W A Harvey, A S C on the Trio. His medal index card shows his WW1 medals were not applied for till 1935 and gives his address as 9 Cedar Road Stockport Manchester. I like the way he has mounted the group for wear clearly preferring the wording to be seen on the Victory Medal. I was drawn to the death certificate with the medals which intrigued me and I was hoping nobody else at the viewing had seen it! If you collect to line infantry regiments or the more glamorous units a Q.S.A. with two state bars and two date bars in combination with a A.S.C trio may not seem very attractive to some, but I thought there may be a story to tell and what a story! William Alban Harvey was a Lancashire lad by birth born in Heaton Norris Stockport on the 5 Jan 1884. The Harvey family had a well established local business having a Leather Goods harness and Saddlers store on Heaton Lane Stockport. Indeed on William's attestation paper for the Militia on the 30th of January he gives his occupation as a saddler however he lies about his age claiming to be 18 years and 1 month old, he had in fact just turned 16! William enlisted into the 3rd Militia Battalion of the Manchester Regiment and he is quickly transferred to the 5th Ardwick Volunteer Battalion having immediately volunteered for service in South Africa where he was to earn his Q.S.A. and 4 clasps a nice hallmarked silver football medallion engraved to him as a member of the 4th VB in 1906 shows he continued to serve as a part time soldier after his return from the 2nd Boer War. Williams skills as a saddler I am sure must have been very useful to the A.S.C. transport unit he served in WW1 with and after war service he returned to Stockport to a quiet hard working life with his beloved Hilda. However the horrors of war had not ended for William he was to suffer a very cruel twist of fate. As I said earlier I was drawn to his death certificate which was in the little wooden chest containing his medals, it clearly stated his occupation as "Inspector of Army Equipment for the Army Ordnance Corps". I was fascinated to see his cause of death given as "Due to War Operations"! Was William at 57 still serving in the armed forces in 1941 in some capacity? He was certainly engaged in war work, however his demise was far more tragic William Alban Harvey the Lancashire Lad who at 16 lied about his age to serve in South Africa, who then served in France throughout WW1 actually lost his life at home at 9 Cedar Road Stockport on the night of the 2nd June 1941 when the Luftwaffe scored a direct hit on his house during the Manchester Blitz. He is remembered on this web site: http://www.greatermanchesterblitzvictims.co.uk/index.php?sold_id=s%3A11%3A%22665%2Cvictims%22%3B&letter&soldier=Harvey&district_id=28 KINGSMAN64

Wow thanks for pointing that out pabzlito yes it is the same officer. Oh I wish I had the space to store that trunk I would have it in a flash. Too big for my little den! I have told J L STRONACH's nephew about the item it may end up back with the family! Best regards Paul

Dear Forum Just thought I'd share a new acquisition which has grown even more impressive in the last few days. I recently purchased from auction a nice condition pair of medals the BWM Delhi Durbar medal to Captain John Lindsay Stronach. I believed the name was sufficiently uncommon to offer good research potential. I was not wrong! John Lindsay Stronach was born in Canada educated in England married in India and served with the Imperial Police Service and was commissioned into the war raised and short lived 2nd/131st United Provinces Battalion Indian Army. (raised from punjab police volunteers). Returning to the police after WW1 Stronach rose to Superintendent before retiring. Returning to the UKforhisretirement. I Was horrified when research began as realised that due to not reading the catalogue properly I had in fact missed Captain Stronach's insignia including some very nice hallmarked Silver items earlier in the auction! After a quick call to the auction house I was put in touch with the buyer and yesterday we completed a deal which means that I have been able to reunite all Superintendent Stronach's medals and insignia. Thanks to Ancestry I also have a picture of my man! Best regards Paul