dante

With the demise of the British in Basra Palace, here are a few shots I took 2004-2005

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Few pictures,

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I am very interested! Please do post away! Did you hear any explosions when you were there?

Few pictures,

Nice rarely seen stuff there!! How was your trip?

Like happy valley in 50s Kenya, stayed at the American Colony Hotel, never drunk so much in my life, hopefully all this stuff might be collectable, I can post some photographs if anyone is interested

The para badge actually look like it's Israeli, could you post a close up pic of it?

Ingsoc, Nothing like Israeli wings see attached picture (bottom), the other wing is Iraqi (left) the Palestinian para wing came directly from the uniform of a force 17 guy, all the best, Paul

Few bits I picked up while working in the West Bank

Paul,

Colonel Friedrich Knackfuss is well known in Jersey (Channel Islands) as the Feldkommandant of the Civil Affairs Department of the German military government of the Channel Islands during the occupation. This civil administration department was run by Feldkommandantur 515 which was based at Victoria College House, St.Helier. Jersey.

Heads of the Civil Administration, Feldkommandantur 515.

(Feldkommandanten to May 1944, then Platzkommandanten)

9 Aug 1940 - 19 Sep 1941 Friderich Schumacher

19 Sep 1941 - Jan 1944 Friedrich Knackfuss

Jan 1944 - 19 May 1944 Wilhelm Kratzer (acting)

19 May 1944 - 1 Mar 1945 I. von Heider

1 Mar 1945 - 9 May 1945 Kurt von Cleve

Looking through the archives of the ?Jersey Heritage Trust? www.jerseyheritagetrust.org/occupation_memorial/historybook/occupationhistoryintroduction.pdf

I find these last entries for ?Knackfuss?

2 March 1944: Feldkommandant Knackfuss leaves Jersey, to face trial over ?defeatist remarks?

British War Crimes Investigators characterised Knackfuss as a 'very jovial type.? Used to wear a monocle and was clean shaven. Speaks Italian fluently and looks a bit like an Italian'.

According to a report available to the investigators Knackfuss was 'relieved of his post in 1944, court-martialled as a result of his opposition to certain orders issued by superior officers and his anti-Nazi behaviour generally'.

I?ll see if I can find out what ultimately happened to Knackfuss and let you know.

Many thanks, I also see that he was wanted for war crimes but as the "victims" were Russian it was never taken forward

Rick, As ever you are a star, thanks, Paul

Feldkommandant, Colonel Knackfuss

No return address on that one, oh my!?

Apparently the Knackfuss of Field Artillery Regiment 11

Leutnant 28.1.07 K (his FAR 11 comrade with seniority exactly 1 below him was Sigfrid Henrici, Lt 28.1.07 L who went on to become a General der Panzertruppen)

Hauptmann iG aD (Line of ommunications Inspectorate Bug and the Reichswehr Armistice Commission)

Oberstleutnant (E) 1.12.35 #4 on staff of Ist Army Corps but with office in Danzig as German member of the Verbindungsstelle before the war

Oberst (E later S) 1.4.40 #61 and still alive May 1944.

Rick, As ever you are a star, thanks, Paul

Wondered if anyone has come accross this guy, as ever thanks, Paul

Had this document hanging around, its to a tram conductor, is it with swords or with out?

Can anyone assist with these medals, many thanks, Paul

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Can anyone assist with these medals, many thanks, Paul

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The recipient as a Pelham Mervyn Tombs, a driver with the Red Cross. The 1901 Census, shows him as aged 21. A secretary with a shipowning company, from Gloucestershire, BRCS &ST JJ on 1914 star trio, District Supt on Coronation, Asst Com on service order, Pelham Mervyn Gainsford Tombs was appointed a Knight of Grace in the London Gazette dtd 23rd June 1914.

Can anyone identify the Foriegn awards, thanks

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The recipient as a Pelham Mervyn Tombs, a driver with the Red Cross. The 1901 Census, shows him as aged 21. A secretary with a shipowning company, from Gloucestershire, BRCS &ST JJ on 1914 star trio, District Supt on Coronation, Asst Com on service order, Pelham Mervyn Gainsford Tombs was appointed a Knight of Grace in the London Gazette dtd 23rd June 1914.

Can anyone identify the Foriegn awards, thanks

Went through all 22 officers who were awarded the clasp N Nigeria 1906..........

DSO, BSACoM Rhodesia, QSA (6) CC T-H RofL Trans L-N OFS (Lt), KSA (2) (Lt), Africa GSM (1) N Nigeria 1906 (Lt), 1914 Star and Bar, BWM, Victory Medal, Order of the Medjidie (Turkey) 4th Class, Order of the Crown (Italy) 4th Class, Golden Jubilee of Emp Franz Josef (Austria).

BINGO !!!!!!!!!...............................................

Went through all 22 officers who were awarded the clasp N Nigeria 1906..........

Dante,

So whats the crack, I for one would be very interested to hear what you`ve found. I wonder if a picture of the guy exists anywhere?

Gordon.

BINGO !!!!!!!!!...............................................

I think your starting point should be the list of all recipients of the DSO prior to 1907. There is a rather large published book which has these, its exact name escapes me but it is available in Naval & Military Press. It will then be a process of eliminating any recipients of other decorations, anyone who died before 1907 as well, and anyone who was obviously entitled to campaign medals not on the bar. This should leave you with a small pool of potential names and then you can go to the level of investigating the regiments to see what matches.

It should be achievable but may take a while. Given that the weather is so bad there is no reason not to stay indoors anyway !

Thanks Guys, I have it in front of me as we speak, I thought I would try the London Gazette for Nigeria but no shakes, so wish me luck.........

Resently got this group, wondered if it is researchable, clasps are Laing's nek, transvaal, ROL, OFS, Tugela Heights and CC, N,Nigeriaa 1906, I have gone through the AGS 1906, and tried to find a match, any ideas welcome

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Resently got this group, wondered if it is researchable, clasps are Laing's nek, transvaal, ROL, OFS, Tugela Heights and CC, N,Nigeriaa 1906, I have gone through the AGS 1906, and tried to find a match, any ideas welcome

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Helmet plate