coldstream

Another in the same series, this time The Officers on St Georges Day.

As regards fakes I'm afraid its down to getting a feel for the object in question I believe.

This item was picked up in a small country antique shop and is still in an old wooden frame which is covered with years of dust and grime. The shop owner provided details of when and how he accquired it and the cost was comparitively low for this item

I know ageing can be faked and a dealer can spin a story but to my mind everything is right about this scroll.

As many eminent collectors and authours have stated in the past, its all about handling as many real objects as pos sible!

Amazing Rick. I assumed that because of the uniforms they would be Freikorps members.

Whats with the pinched caps? Was it just fashion or a communist trait?

A recent addition to my photo collection showing what I believe is a Freikorps MG08 team taking part in the crushing of the Spartacist uprising in Berlin 1919.

Uprising history

Unfortunately the quality of the image is not great but the men shown certainly don't appear to have consented to this photo!

For some reason the scanner has made it look brighter and cleaner than it is.

Here is the reverse taken with a camera.

Thanks Ed, I also thought the lack of the 39-45 war medal was odd. Am I right in thinking that the Defence and 39-45 War medal should be awarded together?

Unfortunately the shop owner couldn't remember anything other than the fact that he believed that the bar came from a local family...oh for a surname! :speechless:

I recently acquired this medal bar from a local antique shop but am puzzled by the last ribbon on this professionally made Great War bar.

I believe that the bar consists of the OBE (Military), 1914 Star, War medal, Victory medal, 1939-45 Star, Defence medal and the mystery ribbon on the end.

It has clearly had something attached to it at some stage and the material used is of a rough cross weave khaki colour. The stitching to the rear of the mystery ribbon is black whereas the rest are affixed with khaki cotton.

Any ideas Gentlemen please?

His list of victories are shown here listing

And a close up.

Found this fairly common Commemorative scroll to a Great War Officer in a local antique shop.

The Officer is shown as Captain Francis Richard Cubbon MC & Bar of the 1st 72nd Punjabis.

Research to date shows that this Captain was killed in action whilst serving as an Observer in the Royal Flying Corps on 9th June 1917 and is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

He was credited with 21 aerial victories and so, I believe would have been refferred to as an ace.

His MC London Gazette entry states 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has shown great pluck and determination acting as observer, on several occaisions displaying fine marksmanship and coolness against numbers of the enemy.'

His subsequent Bar entry reads, 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When acting as an observer on an offensive he displayed great skill and courage against superior numbers of the enemy. Throughout he backed up his pilot with a remarkable display of marksmanship.'

Just found this amongst my archived photos and thought I would add to this topic. 'The Handy Men Whale Island July 1902'

Nice view of Sennet hats in wear.

Thank you Peter, all stunning and yes I'm really jealous :cheers:

Excellent helmet Peter. Any chance of showing us those other helmets please :cheers:

A superb example to a famous Regiment, thanks for showing us. Is the helmet named to its original owner? :cheers:

A recent addition to my collection of a photograph of a young Fusilier. No drum or band insignia is worn.

Many thanks to you all.

An interesting photo and the fact that Military photographers had a supply of uniforms to pose in makes good sense and would explain Ricks point.

Thanks again.

Excellent, thank you Richard. A lovely large photo which I'm very pleased with, close up images to follow. Hopefully!

The rear of the card.

Here is an old photographic postcard I recently obtained which was produced in the 'Photo Rapide H Bessard studio' in Versailles.

From the winged propeller insignia on his headwear I am assuming that this individual is a member of the French Air Service of the Great War. Under a glass his buttons show the French grenade and I am again assuming that this is an army tunic. His belt also appears to be of the standard British 'Sam Browne' type worn without the cross straps.

Any thoughts Gentlemen?

A recent ebay buy, entitled 'R W Fus on hill training Chak 04'. An excellent clear photograph which unfortunately is too damned big for the scanner. I'm working on some close ups using a camera but the results are not good. I'll keep trying and post them if I can.

I believe that Chak is a location in India or Afghanistan, in the front rank of the photo are two soldiers form the 2nd Ghurkas which would obviously tie in with this. Perhaps you would know the Battalion pictured here Richard?

And a close up of the Waldeck.

My first Imperial group, a Birthday present from my other half which she found in a local country auction.......a very nice Birthday indeed :cheers:

Another excellent photo Peachy, thank you. Am I right in thinking that you are responsible for the excellent online museum, Soldiers of the Queen?

Page 2.

First page.

The following two pictures show scans of a real operational order dated 3rd November 1918 relating to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards taking part in a large scale attack the following day by the Guards Division.

The attack was carried out in an easterly direction towards the Bavai-Quene au Loup road which is in Northen France.

As can be seen this operational order emanated from the Grenadiers Commanding Officer of the time, Lt Col the Honourable W R Bailey DSO and was issued at 1830 hours on the day before the attack by the Assistant Adjudant.

It would appear that 9 copies of this order were made and this one is hand noted as copy 5 and is shown as being issued to OC T.M Battery. (trench mortars ???)

Paragraph 6 is particularly interesting as it details ammunition scales and dress. I particularly like note f which states that the Officers were to wear camouflage and webbing equipment and that sticks were not to be carried!

Does anyone have any idea what is meant by camouflage in this context? I would imagine it refers to rank insignia but would be interested in your views Gentlemen.

Nevertheless a nice document steeped in history.