David B 1812

Now HERE is something quite interesting and HISTORIC. It is AN ORIGINAL NAVAL SIGNAL announcing the END of the SECOND WORLD WAR. You can see, from the scan, attached, (below) is the ORIGINAL SIGNAL, as it was typed by the signals officer, as he received the message. He was obviously in a bit of a hurry, as his typing contains a number of (corrected) typo errors. Using a SIMILAR TYPEWRITER, I have RE-TYPED the very same message, (the one now at the upper part of the scan, below), where I have COPIED the ORIGINAL MESSAGE EXACTLY, including the original typo errors, where these were made. The purpose of the re-typed copy, is for reasons of CLARITY against the rather messy original message, which is now quite old (obviously), and is a bit torn and folded, and has been badly repaired by the previous owner, with sticky tape. Anyway it IS an ORIGINAL NAVAL SIGNAL from 8th MAY 1945, thus making it some 68 years old now. Not something one sees every day, I tihnk........... ========================================================= When I copied the document, to post on this page, it was VERY CLEAR with a file size of 2MB. I had to drastically reduced the file size to under 250mb so this webpage would accept it. In doing so, a great deal of the clarity of the original document has been lost. If you cannot read it properly, or would like a nice, clear copy, please ask me, and I will email one to you. David B 1812 (6 April 2013) (The paper used to type the original signal comes from a pad of pages, made by B&S Ltd, and dated 10/43, ref: 51-7537) ====================================================== (This is not the oldest document in my collection. That would be a letter I have, written in Scotland, and dating from 1658..........)

Yes. of course I understand that the LS&GC medal was usually only awarded to the ranks, but what about the various Efficiency Medals and Decorations? Or his MBE (awarded in 1939 when he was a major). He was promoted to Lt. Col in 1941, performed more important duties, etc and served another ten years. I would have thought advancement to an OBE or a CBE would have been appropriate, but apparently, the Army thought otherwise......... Seems a bit mean to me................ BW David B 1812

Here is my work on my Delville Wood Military Medal group to L/Cpl. F.L. Garland, ======================================================= Lance Corporal No. 3241 Frederick Lonsdale GARLAND, M.M. ex 3rd Natal Mounted Rifles, and 2nd S.A. Infantry (‘B’ Company) Group of four medals: MILITARY MEDAL, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920 and the Allied Victory Medal 1914-1919 (S.A.) (In the Bennett Collection of Military Medals) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Written and researched by David Bennett, March 2013 © Born in 1893, Frederick Lonsdale Garland, a farmer and unmarried man, from the well-known Garland family who farmed sugar in the Verulam and Umtinzini districts in Zululand, lived with his father, Frederick Stranack Garland (1861-1918) and his mother, Edith Robinson Garland (neé Spring). Frederick Garland originally joined the Natal Mounted Rifles (the ‘3rd’ Rifles) on 10 August 1914. He was given the regimental number 10 with the N.M.R. On his attestation form, Garland stated that he was 5ft 11in in height, weighed 153lb, and had a ‘fair’ complexion with light brown eyes and light brown hair. Garland left the N.M.R. on 23 July 1915, having attained the rank of Corporal. He was then sent to Potchefstroom in the Transvaal, where, on 28 August, he signed up for the South African Oversea Expeditionary Force, now with the rank of private, and given the number 3241. In training with the 2nd South African Infantry, Garland was shipped off to the north on 4 October 1915. He arrived in England on 20 October 1915. Whilst in England, presumably receiving further training, Garland was appointed a ‘Sniper’ on 18 December 1915. On 29 December 1915 he was posted to Egypt, North Africa, where he remained until 15 April 1916. Whilst in Egypt, the Regiment saw action, principally on 23 January 1916 against the Senussi, at Halazin (Mersa Matruh), and again at Agagia on 26 February 1916, where the ports of Barrani and Sollum had been occupied by the Senussi forces. The attack by elements of the S.A.Infantry and others soon defeated the Senussi, their leaders were captured, and their forces dispersed into the desert. The Senussi, a Muslim tribe from Libya, had, in the Great War, sided with Germany and with the Ottoman Turks, against the Italians in Libya and the British in Egypt. In the Second World War they sided with the British, against the Italians and Germany. By 21 April 1916, Garland had been shipped off to the Western Front, landing at Marseilles in France. Here, and in the north-west, the Allied Forces were assembling their great army for the ‘big attack’ against Germany, planned to begin on 1 July 1916 – the now famous Battle of the Somme. On 6 May 1916, Garland had, in the meanwhile, received promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal. (Even though he had been a full Corporal, when with the Natal Mounted Rifles). We now move onto the Battle of the Somme, which began on 1 July 1916, and of which much has been written. As we have seen, L/Cpl Garland was in ‘B’ Company (under Lt. Walter Hill) part of the 2nd South African Infantry Battalion (commanded by Lt Col. W.E.C. Tanner), which was part of the 1st South African Brigade (Brig-Gen. H.T. Lukin), in turn part of the 9th (Scottish) Division (commanded by Maj-Gen. William Furse), under the XIII Corps (Lt-Gen. Walter Congreve) and which was part of the great Fourth Army, headed by General Sir Henry Rawlinson. ……….. / pg 2 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 2 During the early part of July 1916 the British Forces had pushed north of the Somme River, and the village of Longueval – about 11km east of the town of Albert and about 13km north of the town of Peronne, had been partially captured. The strategic Delville Wood, to the north-eastern edge of Longueval still remained, and heavily defended, in the hands of the German Army. On 14 July the South Africans were ordered to take Delville Wood. The 1st South African Brigade was comprised of four infantry battalions, with 121 officers and 3032 other ranks. The attack was set for the next day, 15 July 1916, at dawn (06h15). Initially the South African offensive, with Garland’s 2nd Battalion taking the lead, went well, and within a few hours, almost the entire wood, save for the defending Germans in the far north-western part of the wood, had fallen. But the South Africans, having advanced so quickly, now found stern German resistance, and soon found themselves surrounded by German Forces on three sides. The German defence was fierce, to say the least. With infantry rifle fire, grenades, machine-gun fire, flame throwers, gas and artillery, the Germans countered the initial attack. Over the next six days, heavy fighting followed, night and day. At one point, German artillery was firing as many as 400 rounds a minute into the wood. It must be appreciated that Delville Wood measured only about 1000m from north to south, and about 1,500m from east to west. And so, such high rates of shelling in such a small area is deadly. Rain and mud made matters even more difficult. Before the fighting began, the wood was described as being “densely populated by trees and thickets”. By the fourth day of the battle, the wood had so been reduced, mainly by artillery that “one could see right through the wood, from end to end. On Saturday, 15 July the battle was already well advanced, with many casualties on both sides. By this time, the second Battalion had only two officers left. One of which was Lt Walter Hill, who was leading his platoon (of B Company) towards the northern part of the wood, directly towards the main German lines. During a short respite, Lt Hill decided to form a small raiding party. He decided on, apart from himself, Sgt F.B. Turner, Cpl E. Brickhill, L/Cpl F.L. Garland, L/Cpl J. Servant, L/Cpl D. Davey, Pte P. Richards and Pte H. Bruce. They set off, and, finding a deep shell-hole, about 30 meters from the edge of the wood, the party of eight decided to stop there for the night. Private Bruce was ordered to leave the shell-hole to ‘go and reconnoitre’. Private Bruce soon returned to the shell-hole, after discovering Germans all around them. Unknown to the party, their main forces had fallen further back, taking up new positions in the wood, only to be replaced by Germans, who now completely surrounded Hill and his men. A short fight followed, in which Sgt Turner was badly wounded, and Privates Richards and Bruce were wounded. Lt Hill, in order to save his men, decided not to fight on, as they were up against at least 150 Germans at that point. The party, now joined by the others of the platoon, who had also been captured, and being 20 South Africans in all, were taken prisoner by the Germans and placed into various shell-holes, under armed German guards. Into one of the shell-holes, were placed, apart from Lt Hill, L/Cpl Garland, the already wounded Sgt Turner, Pte H.H. Pauls and one other man, watched over by a German guard with a rifle and fixed bayonet. Soon Lt Hill decided to attempt an escape. After whispering instructions, Hill jumped up, attacked and disarmed their sentry, and with the sentry’s rifle in hand he headed south towards the South African lines, shouting instructions for the others to follow, which they did. ………… / pg 3 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 3 They were surrounded by German infantry, as close as from 20 to 50 meters away, on three sides, in a sort of ‘horseshoe’ formation. The Germans immediately began to fire upon the five men. What happened next is unclear, save to say that it must have been chaos. Later, Pte Henry Pauls reported: “They fired on us as we ran for our lines. Lt Hill and I being untouched, the other three killed or wounded”. This seems to be true. Records show that Lt Hill did get through, as we will hear more of him later. Pte Pauls got through, as he is recorded as being wounded later, in the wood, on 18 July. Of course, Pte Pauls could not have known the fate of the other three, as they did not reach their lines. Therefore his statement that they were “killed or wounded” was correct at that time. Records show that Sgt Turner was wounded and taken prisoner on 15 July, at this engagement, as was L/Cpl Garland, who during the escape was shot twice – in the right shoulder, and in the right foot. It is safe to say that having been twice shot, and especially in the foot, that he could not continue. The man killed therefore must have been the fifth, and un-named, man who was put into the shell-hole with Lt Hill and the other three. L/Cpl Garland’s military records confirm that he was shot twice, and that on 15 July 1916, he is recorded as being “missing’, and then on 1st September 1916, reported as being a “Prisoner of War”. The records further confirm that apart from the two gunshot wounds which Garland suffered during the escape, that he had also contracted bilharzia “whilst on active service in Delville Wood”. This seems to confirm that only Lt Hill and Pte Pauls actually reached safety, for the time being, that day. For his gallantry on the night of 15/16 July 1916, L/Cpl Frederick Lonsdale Garland was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, at DELVILLE WOOD, in the action involving Lt. W.J. Hill’s raiding party, and for which Lt Hill was recommended for the Victoria Cross. Sadly, Lt Hill was killed two days later. In the original action, L/Cpl Garland was shot, twice, but still managed to assist in the escape of two other men. Eventually he was awarded the Military Medal, with the following citation: “Shewed great gallantry in Delville Wood, when with Lt Hill, in the enemy’s hands, in assisting, though unarmed to overpower a strong armed enemy guard and effect the escape of the party.” Awarded the Military Medal by L.G. 29827; pg. 11146; 16 November 1916. Also awarded: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal (1914-1920) and the Allied Victory Medal (b) (1914-1919). The next day, Sunday, 16 July 1916, Lt. Hill led a bombing party into the Wood. Colonel Tanner had ordered Lt Hill to take a party to the northern edge of the wood. Private Henry Pauls describes the events as follows: “No matter how often the Germans attacked, Lt Hill led us to meet them and with bombs and bayonet we killed many more Germans than our own number. This was largely all due to Lt. Hill’s bravery and I remember him asking Major Burges if he should lead us out the other side of the wood and capture a German trench. Major Burges would not allow this”. During these engagements Lt Hill was mortally wounded. He was shot, and subsequently died of his wounds on 17 July 1916. (Another source gives his death on 20 July 1916 – although this may simply be the reported date). It was said that Lt Hill had received eight wounds! Subsequently, Lt. Walter James Hill 2nd S.A.I. B Coy., was awarded a Mention in Despatches as follows: (With the note) - Recommended for the Victoria Cross by Lt.Col W.E.C. Tanner, but was awarded Mentioned in Despatches – at the time, besides the V.C., a M.I.D. was the only posthumous award allowed. The M.I. D. was as follows: ............ / pg 4 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 4 "In the fighting in the thick wood in the northern part of Delville Wood on 15th July 1916, Lieutenant WJ Hill, 2nd SAI, and a small party of men were surrounded by a stray party of the enemy and after a stubborn resistance (during which numbers of the party were killed or wounded) were rushed and made prisoners and despatched to the enemy end of the wood and there placed by twos and threes in different shell holes under armed guards. Lieutenant Hill, watching his opportunity suddenly attacked and overpowered the guard over his shell- hole at the greatest risk to himself, for had he not succeeded in killing or rendering unconscious the guard, numbers of the enemy within easy hailing distance would have undoubtedly instantly appeared. Lieutenant Hill then led his few men, under heavy fire, back to our lines. The following day Lieutenant Hill led a party of men to reinforce the line in Strand Street where he continued to display the greatest gallantry but was unfortunately killed (while leading a bombing party). Lieutenant Hill showed most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty throughout Delville Wood and by his actions there I consider earned the highest posthumous award." At this time only a Victoria Cross or a Mentioned in Despatches could be earned posthumously. We can only surmise that the authorities decided that although Lt Hill had displayed extreme valour and bravery over the two or three days that he was in Delville Wood, it was perhaps not at quite the required level for a VC. And, as he could not win a Military Cross in death, he was M.I.D. This seems most unfair, but those were the regulations at that time. This is also a possible contributing factor as to why L/Cpl Garland’s heroic actions were, shall we say, ‘downgraded’ from a Distinguished Conduct Medal to a Military Medal. But the Military Medal is still described as “For Bravery in the Field” – for actions by NCO’s and men for acts of bravery not of sufficient heroism as to merit the award of a Distinguished Conduct Medal. However, we must return to L/Cpl Garland’s story. His military papers state that on 12 December 1916 he was removed (we must presume from some temporary holding facility – possibly near, and behind, the front lines) to a Prisoner of War camp in Gottingen, in Germany. And here he remained until finally, on 5 May 1918 he was released by the Germans and repatriated to England. Upon his arrival in England, Garland was immediately admitted on 6 May 1918 to King George’s Hospital (a large Red Cross Hospital in Stamford Street, Waterloo, London, established in 1914/15 as a military hospital). Here he was treated for the wounds he had suffered in July, 1916. Later, on 31 May 1918, Garland was transferred to the South African Military Hospital in Richmond. Garland was released from hospital, finally, on 22 June 1918, and was given leave (‘furlough’) from 26 June 1918 until 10 September 1918 when he was eventually repatriated to South Africa, arriving in Cape Town on 10 October 1918. Garland came out to South Africa aboard a captured (in 1916) German passenger steamer, now operated by the P & O Lines, and called the “Field Marshal”. At the Wynberg Military Camp, Garland was declared, on 25 December 1918 as being ‘Permanently Unfit for General War Service’ and was finally officially discharged from the Army on 8th January 1919, when he returned to his home, the family farm in Verulam. Upon discharge, his Military Character was recorded as being ‘Very Good’. Garland’s war service had been three years and 122 days. Whilst in King George’s Hospital, L/Cpl Garland was interviewed by the news organisation Reuters. Although Garland was obviously a South African, he did mention Australian soldiers during his interview, and so the interview was reported in two Australian newspapers. These were The Northwestern Advocate and the Emu Times, Tasmania, Friday, 24 May 1918, on page one, and also in The Bendigo Advertiser, Victoria, on Monday, 20 May 1918, on page 5. Here is an exact transcription of Garland’s interview, as reported in the Bendigo Advertiser: …………… / pg 5 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TREATMENT OF PRISONERS SOUTH AFRICAN’S EXPERIENCES (Reuter) "Private F.L. Garland, South African Infantry, who was taken prisoner at Delville Wood, and is now repatriated, says: “When I was made prisoner I was forced to walk six miles although I was suffering great pain from severe wounds. After having been buffeted about from place to place, I was operated on without anaesthetics, and then sent to Gottingen Military Hospital, where also were some Australians. The building was a mere compound, without medical staff, nurses, or orderlies. One doctor paid a daily flying visit. He was assisted by a couple of students, who paid large sums for an opportunity to practise surgically on prisoners. The wounded in the hospital where I was were forced to perform all kinds of work. They assisted at operations, and made up bandages from old bagging, with which all wounds were dressed. One student unsuccessfully attempted, without an anaesthetic, to extract shrapnel from my shoulder, resulting in severe suppuration. Others were in a similar plight. The buildings were not heated, and many men were frost-bitten. The food was not fit for pigs, and deaths were frequent. The bedding and clothing were not changed for six months, and were in a disgusting state. The lives of most British men were saved by parcels from home, but it is a miracle that any of them lived. The consumptives were supposed to be separated from, but they mixed freely with, the others.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ And so reported Reuters, to the world, of L/Cpl Garland’s experiences in Gottingen Military Hospital between December 1916 and May 1918. Much has been written about the wholesale slaughter and disaster that was Delville Wood. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Great War. At times, the battle was reduced to hand-to-hand combat, where the adversaries resorted to bayoneting each other to death. Indeed, when it was over, the ‘wood’ was merely an area of broken, shattered and splintered trees, muddy bomb craters and trenches and strewn with the bodies of the dead, as far as the eye could see. The military historian and author, Ian Uys, has written two excellent books in great detail on the subject of Delville Wood, and some of his references have been used in this short article. Delville Wood (also called “Devil’s Wood”) was aptly described by Sir Basil Liddel Hart as “…. the bloodiest battle hell of 1916”. The slaughter, suffering and sacrifice which the South African Infantry endured, day and night, for the week of 14 to 20 July, in the Battle of the Somme, at Delville Wood, cannot be comprehended by us who read these words so many years later. Words like heroism and bravery cannot even begin to express the commitment that the men in Delville Wood showed, in their actions to attempt to take Delville Wood as they were ordered to, a week earlier. On 20 July, the battle continued, and although the wood had been ‘taken’ to, and fro, by both sides during the course of the previous week, neither side was able to properly control the wood. And so, on 20 July, 1916, the few remaining South Africans were eventually relieved. …………………. / pg 6 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 6 It was to be another six weeks before the Germans were finally driven back, and Delville Wood was taken on 9 September 1916. When the South Africans were relieved on 20 July 1916, of the 121 officers and 3032 NCOs and other ranks who had first attempted to take the wood on 14 July, only the following survived and were able to walk out of the wood: Three wounded officers, led by Lt Col Thackeray, and 140 other ranks were relieved. Of the 140 other ranks, less than half were amongst the 3032 who had originally entered the wood, as during the week, a further 199 “reinforcements” had been found, and sent into the wood. During the battle, obviously some of the killed and wounded had been removed from the wood. Others had been taken prisoner by the Germans, like L/Cpl Garland. Because of the chaotic conditions which existed, some men were simply not accounted for, at all, and therefore presumed dead. At the parade of the survivors, on 21 July, General Lukin, Brigade Commander, taking the salute, did so with tears trickling down his cheeks as he viewed the shattered remains of his men. The cost of the Battle of Delville Wood had been extremely high. Naturally, different sources give varying casualty figures. In the finally analysis, it seems that about 760 officers and men were killed. Roughly another 1, 500 were wounded, and about 500 or so were taken prisoner of war. All four battalions of the Brigade suffered similar levels of loss. And so we find a total loss of around 2,800 men. This when combined with the few who made it out of the wood, the few reinforcements sent in late in the week, and those at Brigade Headquarters, together with various support units and some simply unaccounted for, then make up the total number, originally of over 3,000 men. Delville Wood was, as we have seen, just one of many battles which made up the overall Battle of the Somme – which started on 1 July 1916 (there were 60,000 casualties on that first day alone) and ended on 18 November 1916. Total casualty figures over the four and a half months of the battle were staggering. About 310,000 men died (165,000 German; 50,000 French and 95,000 British) and roughly 995,000 men (515,000 German; 155,000 French and 325,000 British) were wounded. This gave a total casualty figure of about 1,305,000 men on both sides – averaging 2,200 men killed EVERY day, and about 7,100 men wounded every day, for a total of about 9,300 casualties a day, over 141 days. One may argue that L/Cpl Garland, despite being shot twice, suffering from bilharzia and taken prisoner of war, was decidedly fortunate to survive the war. In other battles in the war following Delville Wood, another 25% of the South African survivors were to die. Despite the fact that only 4.5% of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade who entered the wood on 14 July 1916 were able to leave the wood a week later, the number of gallantry awards to the 3,000 + men was very low: GALLANTRY AWARDS made for DELVILLE WOOD: Type Recommended Awarded Victoria Cross 5 1 Distinguished Service Order 10 5 Military Cross 14 13 Distinguished Conduct Medal 36 10 Military Medal 42 32 TOTAL MEDALS 107 Only 61 awarded The award of 61 medals to the South Africans for Delville Wood is just 2% of all those present. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a nice group I have in my collection. With the research I have managed, so far. HOWEVER: I have TWO, so far UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: i) There is a M.I.D. Oak leaf on the Victory Medal, but I have not been able to find any London Gazette entry for a MID for Shearcroft. ?????? ii) He has, so far as I can tell, service from 1914 to 1918 and service from 1928 to 1948. BUT this is not to say that he also does not have service also from 1919 to 1927 - I just don't have any documentation which shows his entire career. But we DO KNOW that he has at least 24 years of military service. And YET, despite this - he has no LONG SERVICE MEDAL. WHY??? Surely, a man with more than 20 years service to King and Country should earn some sort of LONG SERVICE MEDAL ??????????? Does anyone have any idea why this particular man does NOT have one......? This group is PICTURED in my ALBUM in the COLLECTORS IMAGE GALLERY Lt. Col. Reginald James SHEARCROFT, M.B.E. East Surrey Regiment By David R. Bennett © 31 March 2013 Reginald James Shearcroft was born in Pimlico, London, on 5 December 1892 (cf. 1901 Census) and was living at that time in North Sheen, Surrey. (However, another source has him born on 14 January 1893). He enlisted as a ‘local enlistment’ in the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) – Territorial Force Battalion, where he received the number 5776. He then transferred to the East Surrey Regiment, (and was given the number L/14214) whose 5th and 6th Battalions (Territorial) did not see action at the Somme, but were part of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (who forced the Turkish surrender in Mesopotamia). The Battalion then went to India, returning later (6th Battalion) for service in the Aden Protectorate – from 29 January 1917 to 29 November 1917. In January 1918, the Battalion returned again to India, arriving in Bombay on 14 January, and they remained in India for the rest of the War. By the end of the War, the Regimental number for Shearcroft had changed again, to 240050, (as it appears on his BWM and AVM) and he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant, according to his Medal Index Card. His medal group was also accompanied by a brass nameplate, “Sgt. R.J. Shearcroft”. It is thought that Shearcroft then joined the India Army, for, when we next hear of him, he is appointed as a Conductor on the India Miscellaneous List, as of 1 January 1928. Next, he receives his first Commission - as a Major (Commissary) - on 15 November 1935 (India Miscellaneous List). This was also confirmed in the LG No. 34275 of 17 April 1936. At this time, the Adjutant General in India was Lt Gen. Sir Walter Leslie, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO (who had held the position since 1 April 1932). He was then succeeded by Lt Gen. Sir John E.S. Brind, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO on 1 April 1936. A “special appointment” to Shearcroft was made in January 1936, as an ‘Officer Supervisor’ in the Adjutant General’s Office at the AG Branch, Army Headquarters. Maj. Shearcroft (as he was then) assumed the position of officiating Personal Secretary to the Adjutant General (first Leslie, then Brind) in place of Lt.Col (Commissary) Jackson, OBE, who was on leave from India from 1 February 1936 until 6 November 1936. Then, on 1 August, 1937 Shearcroft is attached, as Assistant Secretary (D.3) to the Defence Department in Delhi – it is thought in a very superior confidential position, right at the centre of power. He is shown in the I.A.L. of October, 1939. During this period, Major Shearcroft was made a Member of the British Empire (Military) and his M.B.E. was announced in the London Gazette No. 34518 of 9 June 1938. As of 27 October 1941, Shearcroft is promoted, again, this time to Lt Col. (Commissary), Indian Army Departments. This promotion was formalised in the London Gazette No. 35440 of Friday, 30 January 1942. Finally, in April 1944, the Indian Army List shows Lt. Col. R.J. Shearcroft as holding the appointment of Director of Military Regulations and Forms, Defence Department. The last reference we have is the London Gazette of 25 February 1949 (LG No. 38546) which lists the retirement from the Indian Army, on 14 June 1948, of Lt Col. R.J. Shearcroft. Readers will of course recall that India gained formal independence from Britain on 15 August 1947. NOTES: Shearcroft’s 1914-1919 Victory Medal shows an Oak Leaf device, for having been “Mentioned in Despatches”. HOWEVER, I cannot find any London Gazette record of him having been M.I.D. Shearcroft had a fairly long military career, including War Service. He has at least four years service in 1914-1918. To qualify for a T.F.W.M. he needed four years service before August 1914. And then, from what we know, above, he has further service from at least 1928 to his retirement in 1948. At least 20 years. So a minimum length of service of 28 years or more, some of it (for ‘long service’ purposes) counting double, in war time. And, yet, despite this service, Shearcroft’s group does not show any LONG SERVICE award??This is very strange. Why no long service award? Unless he did qualify for one, but for whatever reason, the actual medal is missing from his group?Anyone have any answers / ideas??? Group of TEN medals to Lt. Col. Reginald James SHEARCROFT, MBE. Member of the British Empire (t.2) GVR. Military. British War Medal, 1914 – 1920 Allied Victory Medal, 1914-1919, British version, with M.I.D. Oakleaf Terrritorial Force War Medal, 1914-1919 1939 – 1945 Star Burma Star British War Medal, 1939 – 1945 India Service Medal, 1939 – 1945 Jubilee Medal, GVR, 1935 Coronation Medal, GVIR, 1937 By David R. Bennett © 31 March 2013

Hi there, I too have a MM from Delville Wood. They are very RARE - only 32 were issued. Mine was recommended for a DCM in a VC action - read the full story below. All the best, David B 1812 ===================================================================================================================== Lance Corporal No. 3241 Frederick Lonsdale GARLAND, M.M. ex 3rd Natal Mounted Rifles, and 2nd S.A. Infantry (‘B’ Company) Group of four medals: MILITARY MEDAL, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920 and the Allied Victory Medal 1914-1919 (S.A.) (In the Bennett Collection of Military Medals) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Written and researched by David Bennett, March 2013 © Born in 1893, Frederick Lonsdale Garland, a farmer and unmarried man, from the well-known Garland family who farmed sugar in the Verulam and Umtinzini districts in Zululand, lived with his father, Frederick Stranack Garland (1861-1918) and his mother, Edith Robinson Garland (neé Spring). Frederick Garland originally joined the Natal Mounted Rifles (the ‘3rd’ Rifles) on 10 August 1914. He was given the regimental number 10 with the N.M.R. On his attestation form, Garland stated that he was 5ft 11in in height, weighed 153lb, and had a ‘fair’ complexion with light brown eyes and light brown hair. Garland left the N.M.R. on 23 July 1915, having attained the rank of Corporal. He was then sent to Potchefstroom in the Transvaal, where, on 28 August, he signed up for the South African Oversea Expeditionary Force, now with the rank of private, and given the number 3241. In training with the 2nd South African Infantry, Garland was shipped off to the north on 4 October 1915. He arrived in England on 20 October 1915. Whilst in England, presumably receiving further training, Garland was appointed a ‘Sniper’ on 18 December 1915. On 29 December 1915 he was posted to Egypt, North Africa, where he remained until 15 April 1916. Whilst in Egypt, the Regiment saw action, principally on 23 January 1916 against the Senussi, at Halazin (Mersa Matruh), and again at Agagia on 26 February 1916, where the ports of Barrani and Sollum had been occupied by the Senussi forces. The attack by elements of the S.A.Infantry and others soon defeated the Senussi, their leaders were captured, and their forces dispersed into the desert. The Senussi, a Muslim tribe from Libya, had, in the Great War, sided with Germany and with the Ottoman Turks, against the Italians in Libya and the British in Egypt. In the Second World War they sided with the British, against the Italians and Germany. By 21 April 1916, Garland had been shipped off to the Western Front, landing at Marseilles in France. Here, and in the north-west, the Allied Forces were assembling their great army for the ‘big attack’ against Germany, planned to begin on 1 July 1916 – the now famous Battle of the Somme. On 6 May 1916, Garland had, in the meanwhile, received promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal. (Even though he had been a full Corporal, when with the Natal Mounted Rifles). We now move onto the Battle of the Somme, which began on 1 July 1916, and of which much has been written. As we have seen, L/Cpl Garland was in ‘B’ Company (under Lt. Walter Hill) part of the 2nd South African Infantry Battalion (commanded by Lt Col. W.E.C. Tanner), which was part of the 1st South African Brigade (Brig-Gen. H.T. Lukin), in turn part of the 9th (Scottish) Division (commanded by Maj-Gen. William Furse), under the XIII Corps (Lt-Gen. Walter Congreve) and which was part of the great Fourth Army, headed by General Sir Henry Rawlinson. ……….. / pg 2 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 2 During the early part of July 1916 the British Forces had pushed north of the Somme River, and the village of Longueval – about 11km east of the town of Albert and about 13km north of the town of Peronne, had been partially captured. The strategic Delville Wood, to the north-eastern edge of Longueval still remained, and heavily defended, in the hands of the German Army. On 14 July the South Africans were ordered to take Delville Wood. The 1st South African Brigade was comprised of four infantry battalions, with 121 officers and 3032 other ranks. The attack was set for the next day, 15 July 1916, at dawn (06h15). Initially the South African offensive, with Garland’s 2nd Battalion taking the lead, went well, and within a few hours, almost the entire wood, save for the defending Germans in the far north-western part of the wood, had fallen. But the South Africans, having advanced so quickly, now found stern German resistance, and soon found themselves surrounded by German Forces on three sides. The German defence was fierce, to say the least. With infantry rifle fire, grenades, machine-gun fire, flame throwers, gas and artillery, the Germans countered the initial attack. Over the next six days, heavy fighting followed, night and day. At one point, German artillery was firing as many as 400 rounds a minute into the wood. It must be appreciated that Delville Wood measured only about 1000m from north to south, and about 1,500m from east to west. And so, such high rates of shelling in such a small area is deadly. Rain and mud made matters even more difficult. Before the fighting began, the wood was described as being “densely populated by trees and thickets”. By the fourth day of the battle, the wood had so been reduced, mainly by artillery that “one could see right through the wood, from end to end. On Saturday, 15 July the battle was already well advanced, with many casualties on both sides. By this time, the second Battalion had only two officers left. One of which was Lt Walter Hill, who was leading his platoon (of B Company) towards the northern part of the wood, directly towards the main German lines. During a short respite, Lt Hill decided to form a small raiding party. He decided on, apart from himself, Sgt F.B. Turner, Cpl E. Brickhill, L/Cpl F.L. Garland, L/Cpl J. Servant, L/Cpl D. Davey, Pte P. Richards and Pte H. Bruce. They set off, and, finding a deep shell-hole, about 30 meters from the edge of the wood, the party of eight decided to stop there for the night. Private Bruce was ordered to leave the shell-hole to ‘go and reconnoitre’. Private Bruce soon returned to the shell-hole, after discovering Germans all around them. Unknown to the party, their main forces had fallen further back, taking up new positions in the wood, only to be replaced by Germans, who now completely surrounded Hill and his men. A short fight followed, in which Sgt Turner was badly wounded, and Privates Richards and Bruce were wounded. Lt Hill, in order to save his men, decided not to fight on, as they were up against at least 150 Germans at that point. The party, now joined by the others of the platoon, who had also been captured, and being 20 South Africans in all, were taken prisoner by the Germans and placed into various shell-holes, under armed German guards. Into one of the shell-holes, were placed, apart from Lt Hill, L/Cpl Garland, the already wounded Sgt Turner, Pte H.H. Pauls and one other man, watched over by a German guard with a rifle and fixed bayonet. Soon Lt Hill decided to attempt an escape. After whispering instructions, Hill jumped up, attacked and disarmed their sentry, and with the sentry’s rifle in hand he headed south towards the South African lines, shouting instructions for the others to follow, which they did. ………… / pg 3 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 3 They were surrounded by German infantry, as close as from 20 to 50 meters away, on three sides, in a sort of ‘horseshoe’ formation. The Germans immediately began to fire upon the five men. What happened next is unclear, save to say that it must have been chaos. Later, Pte Henry Pauls reported: “They fired on us as we ran for our lines. Lt Hill and I being untouched, the other three killed or wounded”. This seems to be true. Records show that Lt Hill did get through, as we will hear more of him later. Pte Pauls got through, as he is recorded as being wounded later, in the wood, on 18 July. Of course, Pte Pauls could not have known the fate of the other three, as they did not reach their lines. Therefore his statement that they were “killed or wounded” was correct at that time. Records show that Sgt Turner was wounded and taken prisoner on 15 July, at this engagement, as was L/Cpl Garland, who during the escape was shot twice – in the right shoulder, and in the right foot. It is safe to say that having been twice shot, and especially in the foot, that he could not continue. The man killed therefore must have been the fifth, and un-named, man who was put into the shell-hole with Lt Hill and the other three. L/Cpl Garland’s military records confirm that he was shot twice, and that on 15 July 1916, he is recorded as being “missing’, and then on 1st September 1916, reported as being a “Prisoner of War”. The records further confirm that apart from the two gunshot wounds which Garland suffered during the escape, that he had also contracted bilharzia “whilst on active service in Delville Wood”. This seems to confirm that only Lt Hill and Pte Pauls actually reached safety, for the time being, that day. For his gallantry on the night of 15/16 July 1916, L/Cpl Frederick Lonsdale Garland was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, at DELVILLE WOOD, in the action involving Lt. W.J. Hill’s raiding party, and for which Lt Hill was recommended for the Victoria Cross. Sadly, Lt Hill was killed two days later. In the original action, L/Cpl Garland was shot, twice, but still managed to assist in the escape of two other men. Eventually he was awarded the Military Medal, with the following citation: “Shewed great gallantry in Delville Wood, when with Lt Hill, in the enemy’s hands, in assisting, though unarmed to overpower a strong armed enemy guard and effect the escape of the party.” Awarded the Military Medal by L.G. 29827; pg. 11146; 16 November 1916. Also awarded: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal (1914-1920) and the Allied Victory Medal (b) (1914-1919). The next day, Sunday, 16 July 1916, Lt. Hill led a bombing party into the Wood. Colonel Tanner had ordered Lt Hill to take a party to the northern edge of the wood. Private Henry Pauls describes the events as follows: “No matter how often the Germans attacked, Lt Hill led us to meet them and with bombs and bayonet we killed many more Germans than our own number. This was largely all due to Lt. Hill’s bravery and I remember him asking Major Burges if he should lead us out the other side of the wood and capture a German trench. Major Burges would not allow this”. During these engagements Lt Hill was mortally wounded. He was shot, and subsequently died of his wounds on 17 July 1916. (Another source gives his death on 20 July 1916 – although this may simply be the reported date). It was said that Lt Hill had received eight wounds! Subsequently, Lt. Walter James Hill 2nd S.A.I. B Coy., was awarded a Mention in Despatches as follows: (With the note) - Recommended for the Victoria Cross by Lt.Col W.E.C. Tanner, but was awarded Mentioned in Despatches – at the time, besides the V.C., a M.I.D. was the only posthumous award allowed. The M.I. D. was as follows: ............ / pg 4 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 4 "In the fighting in the thick wood in the northern part of Delville Wood on 15th July 1916, Lieutenant WJ Hill, 2nd SAI, and a small party of men were surrounded by a stray party of the enemy and after a stubborn resistance (during which numbers of the party were killed or wounded) were rushed and made prisoners and despatched to the enemy end of the wood and there placed by twos and threes in different shell holes under armed guards. Lieutenant Hill, watching his opportunity suddenly attacked and overpowered the guard over his shell- hole at the greatest risk to himself, for had he not succeeded in killing or rendering unconscious the guard, numbers of the enemy within easy hailing distance would have undoubtedly instantly appeared. Lieutenant Hill then led his few men, under heavy fire, back to our lines. The following day Lieutenant Hill led a party of men to reinforce the line in Strand Street where he continued to display the greatest gallantry but was unfortunately killed (while leading a bombing party). Lieutenant Hill showed most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty throughout Delville Wood and by his actions there I consider earned the highest posthumous award." At this time only a Victoria Cross or a Mentioned in Despatches could be earned posthumously. We can only surmise that the authorities decided that although Lt Hill had displayed extreme valour and bravery over the two or three days that he was in Delville Wood, it was perhaps not at quite the required level for a VC. And, as he could not win a Military Cross in death, he was M.I.D. This seems most unfair, but those were the regulations at that time. This is also a possible contributing factor as to why L/Cpl Garland’s heroic actions were, shall we say, ‘downgraded’ from a Distinguished Conduct Medal to a Military Medal. But the Military Medal is still described as “For Bravery in the Field” – for actions by NCO’s and men for acts of bravery not of sufficient heroism as to merit the award of a Distinguished Conduct Medal. However, we must return to L/Cpl Garland’s story. His military papers state that on 12 December 1916 he was removed (we must presume from some temporary holding facility – possibly near, and behind, the front lines) to a Prisoner of War camp in Gottingen, in Germany. And here he remained until finally, on 5 May 1918 he was released by the Germans and repatriated to England. Upon his arrival in England, Garland was immediately admitted on 6 May 1918 to King George’s Hospital (a large Red Cross Hospital in Stamford Street, Waterloo, London, established in 1914/15 as a military hospital). Here he was treated for the wounds he had suffered in July, 1916. Later, on 31 May 1918, Garland was transferred to the South African Military Hospital in Richmond. Garland was released from hospital, finally, on 22 June 1918, and was given leave (‘furlough’) from 26 June 1918 until 10 September 1918 when he was eventually repatriated to South Africa, arriving in Cape Town on 10 October 1918. Garland came out to South Africa aboard a captured (in 1916) German passenger steamer, now operated by the P & O Lines, and called the “Field Marshal”. At the Wynberg Military Camp, Garland was declared, on 25 December 1918 as being ‘Permanently Unfit for General War Service’ and was finally officially discharged from the Army on 8th January 1919, when he returned to his home, the family farm in Verulam. Upon discharge, his Military Character was recorded as being ‘Very Good’. Garland’s war service had been three years and 122 days. Whilst in King George’s Hospital, L/Cpl Garland was interviewed by the news organisation Reuters. Although Garland was obviously a South African, he did mention Australian soldiers during his interview, and so the interview was reported in two Australian newspapers. These were The Northwestern Advocate and the Emu Times, Tasmania, Friday, 24 May 1918, on page one, and also in The Bendigo Advertiser, Victoria, on Monday, 20 May 1918, on page 5. Here is an exact transcription of Garland’s interview, as reported in the Bendigo Advertiser: …………… / pg 5 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TREATMENT OF PRISONERS SOUTH AFRICAN’S EXPERIENCES (Reuter) "Private F.L. Garland, South African Infantry, who was taken prisoner at Delville Wood, and is now repatriated, says: “When I was made prisoner I was forced to walk six miles although I was suffering great pain from severe wounds. After having been buffeted about from place to place, I was operated on without anaesthetics, and then sent to Gottingen Military Hospital, where also were some Australians. The building was a mere compound, without medical staff, nurses, or orderlies. One doctor paid a daily flying visit. He was assisted by a couple of students, who paid large sums for an opportunity to practise surgically on prisoners. The wounded in the hospital where I was were forced to perform all kinds of work. They assisted at operations, and made up bandages from old bagging, with which all wounds were dressed. One student unsuccessfully attempted, without an anaesthetic, to extract shrapnel from my shoulder, resulting in severe suppuration. Others were in a similar plight. The buildings were not heated, and many men were frost-bitten. The food was not fit for pigs, and deaths were frequent. The bedding and clothing were not changed for six months, and were in a disgusting state. The lives of most British men were saved by parcels from home, but it is a miracle that any of them lived. The consumptives were supposed to be separated from, but they mixed freely with, the others.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ And so reported Reuters, to the world, of L/Cpl Garland’s experiences in Gottingen Military Hospital between December 1916 and May 1918. Much has been written about the wholesale slaughter and disaster that was Delville Wood. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Great War. At times, the battle was reduced to hand-to-hand combat, where the adversaries resorted to bayoneting each other to death. Indeed, when it was over, the ‘wood’ was merely an area of broken, shattered and splintered trees, muddy bomb craters and trenches and strewn with the bodies of the dead, as far as the eye could see. The military historian and author, Ian Uys, has written two excellent books in great detail on the subject of Delville Wood, and some of his references have been used in this short article. Delville Wood (also called “Devil’s Wood”) was aptly described by Sir Basil Liddel Hart as “…. the bloodiest battle hell of 1916”. The slaughter, suffering and sacrifice which the South African Infantry endured, day and night, for the week of 14 to 20 July, in the Battle of the Somme, at Delville Wood, cannot be comprehended by us who read these words so many years later. Words like heroism and bravery cannot even begin to express the commitment that the men in Delville Wood showed, in their actions to attempt to take Delville Wood as they were ordered to, a week earlier. On 20 July, the battle continued, and although the wood had been ‘taken’ to, and fro, by both sides during the course of the previous week, neither side was able to properly control the wood. And so, on 20 July, 1916, the few remaining South Africans were eventually relieved. …………………. / pg 6 L/Cpl F.L. Garland, MM – Delville Wood, July 1916 Page 6 It was to be another six weeks before the Germans were finally driven back, and Delville Wood was taken on 9 September 1916. When the South Africans were relieved on 20 July 1916, of the 121 officers and 3032 NCOs and other ranks who had first attempted to take the wood on 14 July, only the following survived and were able to walk out of the wood: Three wounded officers, led by Lt Col Thackeray, and 140 other ranks were relieved. Of the 140 other ranks, less than half were amongst the 3032 who had originally entered the wood, as during the week, a further 199 “reinforcements” had been found, and sent into the wood. During the battle, obviously some of the killed and wounded had been removed from the wood. Others had been taken prisoner by the Germans, like L/Cpl Garland. Because of the chaotic conditions which existed, some men were simply not accounted for, at all, and therefore presumed dead. At the parade of the survivors, on 21 July, General Lukin, Brigade Commander, taking the salute, did so with tears trickling down his cheeks as he viewed the shattered remains of his men. The cost of the Battle of Delville Wood had been extremely high. Naturally, different sources give varying casualty figures. In the finally analysis, it seems that about 760 officers and men were killed. Roughly another 1, 500 were wounded, and about 500 or so were taken prisoner of war. All four battalions of the Brigade suffered similar levels of loss. And so we find a total loss of around 2,800 men. This when combined with the few who made it out of the wood, the few reinforcements sent in late in the week, and those at Brigade Headquarters, together with various support units and some simply unaccounted for, then make up the total number, originally of over 3,000 men. Delville Wood was, as we have seen, just one of many battles which made up the overall Battle of the Somme – which started on 1 July 1916 (there were 60,000 casualties on that first day alone) and ended on 18 November 1916. Total casualty figures over the four and a half months of the battle were staggering. About 310,000 men died (165,000 German; 50,000 French and 95,000 British) and roughly 995,000 men (515,000 German; 155,000 French and 325,000 British) were wounded. This gave a total casualty figure of about 1,305,000 men on both sides – averaging 2,200 men killed EVERY day, and about 7,100 men wounded every day, for a total of about 9,300 casualties a day, over 141 days. One may argue that L/Cpl Garland, despite being shot twice, suffering from bilharzia and taken prisoner of war, was decidedly fortunate to survive the war. In other battles in the war following Delville Wood, another 25% of the South African survivors were to die. Despite the fact that only 4.5% of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade who entered the wood on 14 July 1916 were able to leave the wood a week later, the number of gallantry awards to the 3,000 + men was very low: GALLANTRY AWARDS made for DELVILLE WOOD: Type Recommended Awarded Victoria Cross 5 1 Distinguished Service Order 10 5 Military Cross 14 13 Distinguished Conduct Medal 36 10 Military Medal 42 32 TOTAL MEDALS 107 Only 61 awarded The award of 61 medals to the South Africans for Delville Wood is just 2% of all those present. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congrats on a really impressive and wonderful collection, beautifully displayed. As a collector of over 30 years myself, in can see that the groups in your collection are of REALLY SERIOUS QUALITY. And we will not even begin to start talking about market value........... Very well done. David B 1812

An interesting question, to which I do not know the answer. It would be nice if we could get a definitive answer........... David B 1812

Mervyn, on the 5th November 2012, in connection with this group, you wrote: "Very strange on such an important group - it has the Special Constabulary long service medal. He must have joined after discharge." Now, I have to presume, that by the statement: "after discharge" you meant that he joined the Special Constabulary, AFTER DISCHARGE from the military. And we know, by his medals, that his military career was limited to the Second World War. Therefore IF he joined after discharge, it would have been after 1945 / 1946. I would say that your supposition here is incorrect, for this reason: If he had joined the Special Constabulary after the Second World War, and he had remained a member for long enough to qualify for a medal, the surely he would have received the medal in the GVIR version, which would be correct for the time? If you look at the Special COnstabulary Long Service Medal in the photograph, you can clearly see that it is a GVR version - meaning the award thereof would have / should have ended before the Second World War - probably around 1936 / 1937 or so. Well that is my view, anyway.

Further to the photo of the Lt. Col. R.J. Shearcroft MBE medal group illustrated above, here is all the information I have on him. If ANYONE can add to it, build on it, add appropriate photographs, or comment on, or solve the questions posed in the notes at the end, it would be most appreciated. Thank you, David B 1812 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lt. Col. Reginald James SHEARCROFT, M.B.E. – East Surrey Regiment By David R. Bennett © 31 March 2013 Reginald James Shearcroft was born in Pimlico, London, on 5 December 1892 (cf. 1901 Census) and was living at that time in North Sheen, Surrey. (However, another source has him born on 14 January 1893). He enlisted as a ‘local enlistment’ in the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) – Territorial Force Battalion, where he received the number 5776. He then transferred to the East Surrey Regiment, (and was given the number L/14214) whose 5th and 6th Battalions (Territorial) did not see action at the Somme, but were part of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (who forced the Turkish surrender in Mesopotamia). The Battalion then went to India, returning later (6th Battalion) for service in the Aden Protectorate – from 29 January 1917 to 29 November 1917. In January 1918, the Battalion returned again to India, arriving in Bombay on 14 January, and they remained in India for the rest of the War. By the end of the War, the Regimental number for Shearcroft had changed again, to 240050, (as it appears on his BWM and AVM) and he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant, according to his Medal Index Card. His medal group was also accompanied by a brass nameplate, “Sgt. R.J. Shearcroft”. It is thought that Shearcroft then joined the India Army, for, when we next hear of him, he is appointed as a Conductor on the India Miscellaneous List, as of 1 January 1928. Next, he receives his first Commission - as a Major (Commissary) - on 15 November 1935 (India Miscellaneous List). This was also confirmed in the LG No. 34275 of 17 April 1936. At this time, the Adjutant General in India was Lt Gen. Sir Walter Leslie, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO (who had held the position since 1 April 1932). He was then succeeded by Lt Gen. Sir John E.S. Brind, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO on 1 April 1936. A “special appointment” to Shearcroft was made in January 1936, as an ‘Officer Supervisor’ in the Adjutant General’s Office at the AG Branch, Army Headquarters. Maj. Shearcroft (as he was then) assumed the position of officiating Personal Secretary to the Adjutant General (first Leslie, then Brind) in place of Lt.Col (Commissary) Jackson, OBE, who was on leave from India from 1 February 1936 until 6 November 1936. Then, on 1 August, 1937 Shearcroft is attached, as Assistant Secretary (D.3) to the Defence Department in Delhi – it is thought in a very superior confidential position, right at the centre of power. He is shown in the I.A.L. of October, 1939. During this period, Major Shearcroft was made a Member of the British Empire (Military) and his M.B.E. was announced in the London Gazette No. 34518 of 9 June 1938. As of 27 October 1941, Shearcroft is promoted, again, this time to Lt Col. (Commissary), Indian Army Departments. This promotion was formalised in the London Gazette No. 35440 of Friday, 30 January 1942. Finally, in April 1944, the Indian Army List shows Lt. Col. R.J. Shearcroft as holding the appointment of Director of Military Regulations and Forms, Defence Department. The last reference we have is the London Gazette of 25 February 1949 (LG No. 38546) which lists the retirement from the Indian Army, on 14 June 1948, of Lt Col. R.J. Shearcroft. Readers will of course recall that India gained formal independence from Britain on 15 August 1947. NOTES: Shearcroft’s 1914-1919 Victory Medal shows an Oak Leaf device, for having been “Mentioned in Despatches”. HOWEVER, I cannot find any London Gazette record of him having been M.I.D. Shearcroft had a fairly long military career, including War Service. He has at least four years service in 1914-1918. To qualify for a T.F.W.M. he needed four years service before August 1914. And then, from what we know, above, he has further service from at least 1928 to his retirement in 1948. At least 20 years. So a minimum length of service of 28 years or more, some of it (for ‘long service’ purposes) counting double, in war time. And, yet, despite this service, Shearcroft’s group does not show any LONG SERVICE award??This is very strange. Why no long service award? Unless he did qualify for one, but for whatever reason, the actual medal is missing from his group?Anyone have any answers / ideas??? Group of TEN medals to Lt. Col. Reginald James SHEARCROFT, MBE. Member of the British Empire (t.2) GVR. Military. British War Medal, 1914 – 1920 Allied Victory Medal, 1914-1919, British version, with M.I.D. Oakleaf Terrritorial Force War Medal, 1914-1919 1939 – 1945 Star Burma Star British War Medal, 1939 – 1945 India Service Medal, 1939 – 1945 Jubilee Medal, GVR, 1935 Coronation Medal, GVIR, 1937 © D.R. Bennett 2013

Hi Ed, Here is a little pre 1947 Group for this Discussion Group. It is: To: Lt. Col. R.J. Shearcroft, MBE, East Surrey Regt. If anyone is interested in knowing more about the group, please ask. Best wishes, David B 1812

Herewith photo of No 126452V T/Cpl. D.M. Simpson Group, with RHS Bronze Medal (S) David B 1812

Thank you Mervyn and Brian, for your kind welcome to the group. So far, in looking around the various posts, I know at least two members. But obviously there may be others, as time passes. I have known Brett Hendey for nearly 25 years now, and I also know and have corresponded with "Ed" - very possibly the world's leading expert on medal matters concerning India and surrounding areas. (Ed through other Internet groups) . Apart from my medal and militaria collections, my main two areas of work at the moment are two books I am writing. The first is about an Old Boy of my old school, Durban High School. The book will probably go under the title of: 'Maj. Edwin Swales, VC, DFC and other D.H.S. Heroes'. (Been working on it for four years, now). The second book, which I started in 2003, goes under the provisional title of 'A Dictionary of Military Terms, Definitions and Abbreviations'. It is a mammoth work, and more comprehensive (on the subject) than any other I have ever seen. It is pretty much complete now, and I really need to find a publisher with decent distribution channels into the world of medal collectors, militaria collectors, military museums and libraries, medal/militaria shops and dealers, military and history researchers and writers, the genealogy market, and so forth. To give you an idea of the scope of the "Dictionary" let us compare it with something we know. And that is the 2013 Medal Year Book list of Military Abbreviations, etc as listed in the MYB from page 515 to page 518. If you do a rough count of the number of abbreviations and/or definitions as are covered by these few pages in the MYB, you will find that the total number of entries is about 475. Now, my "Dictionary of Military Terms, Definitions and Abbreviations" has approximately 5,150 entries, covering the A to Z of the subject. It also has 14 pages of very interesting Appendices - eight appendices in all. Total word count so far: 54,850 words. The book covers as many terms, definitions and abbreviations as I could find, these past ten years from the UK, S.A,. Australia, N.Z., Canada, India, the U.S.A. and some basic cover of German and other European. It is a huge work, as this description will attest. Best wishes, David B 1812 P.S. Here is a tiny sample of what it looks like. This is ONLY from H, Ha, to Haz. Obviously not shown are the next entries, i.e.: Hb, Hba. etc etc........... H Hussars, or Royal Hussars HA Heavy Artillery HA Horse Artillery HAA Heavy Anti-Aircraft HAAAR Heavy Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (of the R.A.) (as part of the B.A.F. 1939 – 1942) Habbakuk The British WWII code name for a floating seadrome made of ice HAC Honourable Artillery Company HA / LA guns High angle / Low angle guns, for example 4 inch (100mm) guns (often quick firing) fitted as secondary armament on a navy cruiser for use against either surface or air targets. Other examples are the Bofors 40mm and the Oerlikon 20mm guns. Halberd A combination spear-battle axe. Having an axe-like cutting blade, a sharp pointed spike and a sharp or hooked beak, attached to (usually) a long wooden haft. HALO High Altitude Low Opening parachute jump Halyard A nautical term for a rope used for raising and lowering a flag or sail Hammal Formerly a bearer of a palanquin or palke. (Indian) Later used in the Bombay Presidency to denote a personal servant Hants: & I of W Hampshire and Isle of Wight (on a QSA) HAR Helicopter, Air Rescue Hart’s Annual Army List Unofficial army lists of British Officers from 1840 to 1915 showing war services and medal details. Also Indian Army from 1862 onwards Hats The British operational code name in WWII for the passing of the Fleet reinforcements through the Mediterranean and running of supply convoy to Malta Hav Havildar (cf.) Havildar Indian Infantry - an NCO equal to Sergeant Havildar-Major Indian Infantry - a Regimental Sgt. Major Hav. CGD Havildar Clerk General Duties (Indian) Hav./W&W Havildar Watch and Ward (Indian) Havelock Cloth cap cover that hung on the back to protect the neck from sunlight (named after Sir Henry Havelock) Hazar A colloquial term for one thousand Rupees (Indian)

Some years ago, I acquired, as a gift from a friend, two Q.S.A. medals, and both with no clasps. Now, I have done my research on these two medals, and I even have actual copies of the original handwritten regimental medal rolls, for both. And, as you might expect, both QSAs are entitled to a number of clasps, confirmed. So, here are the details : To: 8206 Pte J. Johnston 1st Highland Light Infantry (the 71st) Missing clasps are: Cape Colony; Wittebergen; S.A. 1901 (not entitled to a K.S.A.) and, also, To: 133 Tpr Francis George Hollington, 2nd Victoria Mounted Rifles. Missing clasps are : Cape Colony; Rhodesia; S.A. 1901. (not entitled to a K.S.A.) Now obviously, I would like to replace the clsaps. And so, in summary, I will require: 2 x Cape Colony; 2 x S.A. 1901 and one each of Wittebergen and Rhodesia. Naturally, original clasps would be best, failing that, good quality copies, until (hopefully) originals can be obtained. DO ANY GROUP Members know of a good, reliable source / supplier who may be able to assist me. I have obviously found some suppliers of copy clasps on the interent, but as I have not yet approached them, I cannot say if they are reliable, nor if their copies are of decent quality. I know that in the past, Dixon Medals used to deal in replacement clasps, but I see that their website no longer shows a section for clasps. Can ANYONE ASSIST ME, please? Thank you. David B 1812 ---------------------------------------------------

Yes, I will try to do so, in the coming days.

VALUATION of MEDALS or GROUPS OF MEDALS : Part TWO of TWO parts: MY PROPOSITION TO YOU THEREFORE IS THE FOLLOWING PREMIUMS TO THE "BASE" PRICE: To The "Base" or MYB Price which we will call "100 Units" we will....... ADD the FOLLOWING PERCENTAGES: For a Group 10% For holding the RANK of a N.C.O. 10 to 20% For holding a RANK of an OFFICER 30 to 70% If the individual was WIA (Wounded in Action) 25% If the individual was KIA (Killed in Action) 50% If the individual is/was a FEMALE 50 - 100% If the medals are still MINT, in the box of issue 100% If the individual was a member of the Rifle Brigade 10% If the individual was a member of the Guards 25% If the individual was in the Royal Horse Artillery 50% If the individual was a military chaplin / equivalent 50% If the individual has a multi -clasp medal and he was cavalry 200% For MULTI-CLASP medals, take the value of the rarest clasp, and ADD 25% of that value for each additional clasp, to get the value of the multi-clasp medal. A leading medal dealer of my acquaintance, offered the following view: For groups, add 10% of the total value of all the individual medals in the group. For rank, those of NCOs offer no premium, unless the chap was a "Colour Sergeant". For officers, he would add 50%. For proven Killed in Action, he would add 50%. If you examine the 1983 editon of the "SPINKS Catalogue of British Orders, Medals and Decorations" you will find that the publication makes the following recommendations: Add to the Medal Value: For NCOs aboive the rank of Corporal, add 20% For Junior Officers, up to and including Captain, add 40% For Major and Lt. Colonel, add 70% For full Colonel and above, add 100% And so, fellow members of the GMI CLUB, there in TWO PARTS, we have some food for thought. Some ideas as to valueing MEDALS or MEDAL GROUPS, where we do not simply accept the Medal Year Book, BASE PRICE (say, as a 100% base), because our medal or group has some "special" attributes, which make it "better' or "different" or "more desirable" than just the BASIC medal price which is set out in the basic Medal Year Book catalogue base price. So, what system do YOU use? How do YOU value your medals? Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the above? What is your experience of such matters? Do you have other ideas, which we can use to PROPERLY value our medals, using the variables I have listed earlier? What about a P.O.W. ? The list does not show a premium for your man being a P.O.W. Is there a premium for being a P.O.W.? Should there even be a premium for P.O.W.? I respectfully submit that this is an interesting topic for discussion and debate. I do not hold out that my above "formula" is necessarily correct, nor even the "only" formula. It is the product of various people, with whom I have been in contact, combined. Of course each of you may have DIFFERENT ideas to those listed here, and we would all be, I think, very interested to hear other views. Best wishes, David B 1812 ----------------------------------------------------------

VALUATION of MEDALS or GROUPS OF MEDALS : Part TWO of TWO parts: MY PROPOSITION TO YOU THEREFORE IS THE FOLLOWING PREMIUMS TO THE "BASE" PRICE: To The "Base" or MYB Price which we will call "100 Units" we will....... ADD the FOLLOWING PERCENTAGES: For a Group 10% For holding the RANK of a N.C.O. 10 to 20% For holding a RANK of an OFFICER

This is a very long, detailed post. I will call it PART ONE of a TWO PART POST: I would consider myself a fairly experienced, knowledgable medal collector, with a collection of over 600 medals, and experience of 33 years in the hobby. I have just this week received my 2013 copy of Medal Year Book. I would like to hear the views and opinions of other members of this "Club" as to exactly HOW they value the medals in their collections - that is apart from the obvious, of looking up a medal in the MYB and seeing that the value is from £30 - £35. Of course, we all know that it is NOT that simple. The MYB valuation is for a bog-standard medal, to a bog-standard individual, in an average everyday unit, and in average to good condition. Then, of course, there are those amongst you who may wish to argue that the prices quoted in the MYB are in many cases higher than they should be, and that you just WISH that you could get those levels of prices for your medals, IF you sold them. Well to those people, I would say that, no, you will not get those prices for your medals if you sell them to a dealer, who, in turn, wants to make a profit, and will try to sell your medals at MYB levels or more, if he can get more. Secondly, you may get MYB prices or higher if what you are selling is something a potential buyer REALLY wants and needs - he may well pay a premium. Then of course, we come to medals that you have put some WORK into. If they are named, and you have done research on them, got papers for them verified the awards on the medal roll, checked the casualty lists, printed out CWGC death certificates, if the poor fellow was K.I.A. and so on and so forth, you will add value to the medal, or group. Likewise, if you check the London Gazette for confirmation of gallantry and similar awards, and make copies of the LG references, etc, you will add value. If you do further IN DEPTH research on the individual, you may find that he received his award for a noteworthy engagement - for example, I have in my collection, a South Africa group with a Military Medal, awarded to a man, in a Victoria Cross recommended action, at DELVILLE WOOD. What is more, my man was shot twice, escaped (hence the award) but was captured, and made a P.O.W. Groups like that are gold. Or a WWII group to an uncle of mine who won a British Empire Medal for gallantry, at Cassino, Italy. A very famous battle. More gold. Or another WWI pair I have, with a death plaque to a South African Royal Flying Corps pilot, shot down, over the Somme, becoming a "Bloody April" casualty for April, 1917. You just don't find stuff like this every day. BUT it all starts with an apparently "ordinary" medal, or group. You the DO THE RESEARCH, and, if you can find something good - you can ADD masses of value. Like the WWI East Africa "K.I.A." casualty I have, where his demise is recorded in his regimental history. That, "during the late afternoon, there was a lull in the battle....." My man, with two others sat in a group, and one shared cigarettes with the others. As the THIRD MAN (my casualty) lit his cigarette, "......... he received a mortal wound, from enemy rifle fire...... a fact which was later noted by the others, that he was the third person to light up....'' You just can't make stuff like this up. But lots of diligent research is required. Now IF after you have this kind of documented research, neatly and properly recorded, or even published, then almost certainly you will sell at well ABOVE MYB price levels, especially at AUCTION, where the buyers usually are NOT buying for re-sale, but for themselves and their own collections - therefore they will generally pay higher prices, at auction. BUT let us leave aside the Medal Year Book price arguement for the time being. In other words, we will not argue if these are above, or below what you might consider "fair market value". That is an entriely different arguement. What we are talking about here is: HOW DO YOU VALUE A MEDAL or MEDAL GROUP, having account for factors like: What are the different medals in the Group? Are they verified? If any medal / medals have bars, or clasps, are they correct? Have you verified them? What if the medal recipient belongs to a 'special' or 'unusual' unit or regiment? What if he holds rank, higher than just a plain private? What if the "he" is in fact a "she" - does that command a premium on the price?. What if your man was killed in action? Wounded in action? Taken as a P.O.W.? What if you have private papers for the man, or a photograph of him, especially one of him in uniform? What if you have a group. like I have, to man who, in WWII was in the Royal Armoured Corps, but, in addition to his '39-'45 Star; Africa Star, Italy Star and France and Germany Star, was awarded an "ATLANTIC" clasp to his France and Germany Star? How is this possible? After all the Atlantic Star was issued (primarily) to men who were in the Royal Navy, and spent at least six months in Atlantic waters. But this man is from the Royal Armoured Corps. Never was in the navy. Can he have an "Atlantic" clasp? To an 'army' man. YES!!! He can ..... because he was R.A.C. crew on Ship's Landing Craft. Both for the Italy landings (1943) and then for the Normandy landings 1944. Ship's Landing Craft crew qualified for the Atlantic Star. This is part of a long service group I have. This fellow also has WWI medals, with an MM, as well as coronation and long service medals. But that is another story. So, we have seen now, how complicated an apparently (and outwardly) simple appearing medal or group of medals can be. And, I repeat, now that you know all this EXTRA information about your medals, is / are the Medal Year Book prices correct / accurate? Probably not. Here is my PROPOSITION to the Readers of this thread: Over the years, I have tried, as best I can, to answer these questions, with a sort of "formula" to valuation. After correspondence with some leading medal dealers, and after reference to some leading medal publications, WHAT APPEARS BELOW, is as close as I can come to a sort of "formula" for valueing a medal / group of medals. For purposes of arguement, we do not bicker about whether the MYB is correct or not. We simply ACCEPT that the 2013 MYB prices are diligently compiled, from many reputable medal dealers, and many reputable medal auction houses, and we will treat the cataloged prices, NOT AS MONEY, but as a BASE PRICE of 100. Or of 100% Or 100 units of price. So where do we go from here? END of PART ONE - Continued in PART TWO. (Below.......) ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, Just joined the GMIC this evening. My first post: I have a RHS Bronze Medal (Small, successful) with papers from the RHS confirming the award to one Donald Simpson, (Case No. 47340) a schoolboy, 15 years of age, who, on 3 February 1924, at 5.15pm at Vereeniging, Transvaal (Vaal River) rescued May Clark, 14 years, and May Lawrence, 10 years. The RHS Record reads: "The girls were bathing in the River and could not regain the bank, owing to the strong stream. The younger dragged the other down. 20 yards out and 30 feet deep. Simpson went in fully clad, and succeded in bringing the girls out". Awarded Bronze, Successful, on 1 August 1924. I also have Simpson's WWII medals, and his WWII papers. His 'Record of Service Card' states, on 13 October 1944, that: "Granted Authority to wear the 'Royal Humane Society Ribbon of the Bronze Medal' " No 126452V T/Cpl Donald Mercer SIMPSON, 1st Transvaal Scottish. Group Consists of: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; The War Medal 1939-1945; Africa Service Medal; RHS Bronze Medal (1924) David.

I agree -almost certainly GCC = Government Camel Corps.