Alan Baird

Hi, I have photographed a very basic statement that was given by Thakar Miah on his survival, on the raft, after the sinking of Fort Longueuil. Thakar Miah was the younger of the two men and was employed as a fireman. The sinking is officially listed as the 20th of September in 1943 and Thakar Miah was told by the Japanese that it was the 1st of February in 1944 when they arrested him.............[it is a bright beautiful morning and I am up early but my brain is not working so well] ........ I think that makes it 134 days or it might be 135?

Hi, That is a great piece of family history. It would make a great project to investigate and record, in detail, this encounter between the merchant navy and the German U-boats in 1918. Alan.

This is not in my collecting area but it is a really nice little item and relates to German submarines and the whole mercantile marine subject.......... This is a beautiful '''sweetheart broach''' dedicated to German submarine U-5 and dates from WW2. This is an unusual sweetheart broach and appears to be dedicated to or from somebody who served on the German submarine U-5. It is very attractive and well-made broach and has been very artistically designed. The main body of the broach is some kind of tough plastic with some small pieces of worked copper and jewellery stones etc added to the main bodywork. During the 1930's and 40's there was much development regarding plastics and the use of such materials. German submarine U-5 was laid down on the 11th of February in 1935 and was then launched on the 14th of August and commissioned on the 31st of August in 1935. Imagine it only took approximately 6 months to build a submarine, quite a feat. German submarine U-5 was mainly used as a training boat from 1935 to 1949 but did do two wartime patrols in 1940 and was then transferred to operational duties from the 1st of July in 1940 onwards. German submarine U-5 was sunk on the 19th of March in 1943, in a diving accident, off the coast of Russia, 16 members of her 37 man crew survived the incident.

this is a continuations of the last post which got posted before I had finished. The Chief Engineer Mercantile Marine medal plus WW2 medals. Now the story within a story..........originally 7 men were blown clear of the sinking ship and reached a raft. They hailed the U-boat and asked to be taken aboard but were refused. They were given no bearings, no food or water by the crew of the submarine. One of the survivors who was injured died soon afterwards. By day 3 on the high seas all the provisions were gone. By the evening of day 20 four of the men lay dead on the raft but rain revived two to stay alive. They were Mohamed Aftab and Thakar Miah who were Indian crewmen, one employed as a fireman and the other as a greaser. They continued to survive by catching the occasional fish and sea birds and they did this for an incredible 131 days. They reached the coast of Malaya only to be taken prisoners by the Japanese and then placed in a P.O.W. camp in Sumatra. They were tasked many times with the odious task of carrying Allied war prisoner's bodies who had been decapitated by the Japanese, to communal pits or a burial area. They were released only after ''Victory Day'' and returned to Liverpool on the S.S. Derbyshire. The world record for the longest survival in a life raft was by ''Poon Lim [2nd steward]'' from the S.S. Benlomond which was sunk on the 23rd of November in 1942 and he survived a confirmed 133 days adrift. I have seen various reports about Mohamed Aftab and Thakar Miah which stated they survived 131 days but also other reports which stated they survived 134 days. I suppose their survival was never fully confirmed regarding the duration of this event because they may have held the world record...... Here is again ''Mohamed Aftab and Thakar Miah'' and also ''Poon Lim.''

''The story within a story'' of the sinking of the Steam Ship Fort Longueuil and the death of its Chief Engineer Thomas Douglas Clough. The ship..........the S.S. Fort Longueuil ws built in America and launched in 1942 and then leased to Britain. She was a ''Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship'' [DEMS] of 7,128 tons and manned with officers and men of the merchant service but also had a small number of Royal Navy and Royal Artillery gunners. On the 16th of July in 1942 she left Barry Docks and joined a convey and sailed to Alexandria to unload her cargo and then sailed to Aden. After refuelling and taking on a new cargo of ''phosphate'' she set sail for Freemantle in Australia on the 9th of September. On the 19th of September in 1942 south of the Chagos Island in the Indian Ocean, she was torpedoed without warning by the German U-Boat U-532. Fort Longueuil blew up, broke in half and sank within a few minutes and out of the 59 crew, only 2 individuals ultimately survived but Chief Engineer Thomas Douglas Clough was not one of them. The submarine..........U-532 was launched in August of 1942 and was commanded by Ottoheinrich Junker. He was born in Freiburg in 1895 and died on the 28th of July in 2000. After sinking Fort Longueuil, he went on to sink a further 8 allied merchant ships and he surrendered U-532 at sea on the 10th of May in 1945. The Chief Engineer..........Thomas Douglas Clough was born in 1890, in Keighley, in Yorkshire. He was the son of Frederick and Lucy Clough. Husband of Alice Clough of Silsden, in Yorkshire. Thomas D Clough served in WW1 but these medals are missing but his mercntile marine medal could be put on a medal bar with the

My apologies to Jon Wilson for not replying to your post sooner. I had software problems during the lockdown and decided to have an ''extended break'' from my computer whilst doing other things. After a while of not using a computer at home, it became the norm but now it is time to return to using it again. To have PC [240H] Ernest Thompson as your Great Grandfather is brilliant. His massive funeral in London speaks volumes on how he was admired. I remember the first time I read how he kept hold of his prisoner, even although he was fatally wounded, stabbed in the neck, a very brave man. regards, Alan.

Doctor Thomas George Barton. Here we have an antique heavy sterling silver cigarette case which is engraved, ''Presented to :- Dr T. G. Barton by the Police at Chadwell Heath, on his relinguishing the Post of Division Surgeon.' That would be Bow or 'K' division. The silver cigarette case was made by, ''Johnson, Walker and Tolhurst,'' who were London jewellers of the highest standard. For example Winston Churchill was known to be one of their clients. The cigarette case measures approximately 83mm x 80 mm and has a gilt interior and is in extremely fine condition and is fully hallmarked. There is also the original New Scotland Yard letter from the Chief Surgeon thanking Doctor Barton for the invaluable services he performed as a Divisional Surgeon. The letter is dated the 31st of October in 1922 and confirms his replacement will be a Doctor M. M. Frew effective from the 1st of November in 1922. Doctor Thomas George Barton was born in Ireland in approximately 1862. In the England Census of 1891, Doctor Thomas George Barton is boarding at 364 Green Lanes, Stoke Newington, in London and he is recorded as being employed as a doctor of medicine and surgery. We have a record of Doctor Thomas George Barton practicing medicine in Ireland in 1889 so he could have transferred to London sometime between late 1889 and before the England Census of 1891. The Jack the Ripper murders were committed in the last quarter of 1888 and there were several incidents over the next couple of years which resulted in the general public being afraid that Jack the Ripper might have returned. Therefore Doctor Thomas George Barton may have experienced this strange atmosphere and as a medical man would have probably found this situation very interesting especially from a medical point of view. In 1906, Doctor Thomas George Barton was a witness in the Old Bailey trial of George Tentori for maliciously publishing certain false and defamatory libels against Doctor William Summerskill. The claims involved inappropriate behaviour with a female patient. It seems the normal practice for examining a female patient in an intimate body area would be to have that patient bring along a female friend or the doctor should have provided a female assistant. The patient stated she had no female friends and wanted the examination kept secret. The trial found George Tentori was guilty of slander and he was sentenced to three months imprisonment. Doctor Thomas George Barton became the Metropolitan Police Divisional Surgeon for Chadwell Heath which is in Bow or 'K' divisional area. We do not have a starting date for this appointment but it was probably sometime after 1913. The Old Bailey trial records available to the Public end in 1913 and there are no entries for Doctor Barton within this period. The duties of a Divisional Surgeon would have certainly meant that he would have attended this court at some time during his extended service. We know that Doctor Thomas George Barton left the Metropolitan Police, as a Divisional Surgeon, on the 31st of October in 1922. Doctor Thomas George Barton must have been a successful and well liked individual as his present of the silver cigarette case which was purchased as a leaving gift, was an expensive gift from a top London jewellers. I think as further relevant information is release ie Old Bailey trial records etc....his story may have more to tell. The silver cigarette case is in extremely fine condition and was obviously a treasured possession. I actually thought it was in such a nice condition that he must not have smoked so therefore he did not use it but my wife pointed out...........why would you then give a cigarette case to a man that does not smoke.

Hi, '''''The Steam Ship Cambank was a registered Cardiff ship and became the first casualty of a German U-boat in Welsh waters during the Great War when she was sunk off the coast of Anglesey on the 20th of February in 1915.''''' Steam Ship Cambank was a Cardiff registered ship and belonged to Merevale Shipping Company and was originally built in 1899 by John Readhead & Sons of South Shields. In February of 1915 she had sailed from Huelva in Spain with a valuable cargo of copper bars which was valued at between £60,000 to £70,000 and was heading to Garston. [Liverpool] Obviously German agents were always trying to identify the most valuable cargo's carried by merchant ships so that this information could be relayed to German Naval forces. The first part of SS Cambank's journey had been difficult due to gales etc. Then while the sea was calm, at 11am on the 20th of February in 1915, the crew spotted the periscope of '''German Submarine U30,''' approximately 250 to 300 yards away. The Ship's Master [Captain] Thomas Robert Prescott [53] was a Cardiff man and a very experienced sailor. There had already been a report of a German submarine operating in the area and so the Captain, as a precautionary measure, had ordered the starboard lifeboats to be slung out. Captain Thomas Robert Prescott immediately attempted to change course but the torpedo struck home. The SS Cambank was approximately 10 miles off Point Lynas, Anglesey when the torpedo struck the vessel amidships. One crew member stated, ''the explosion was terrible and there was a huge volume of water and fire that reached about half-way up the mast.'' The massive explosion was both heard and seen from the shore and this resulted in the local ''Bull Bay Lifeboat'' being launched to bring back the survivors to Amlwch Port. Captain Thomas Prescott's precautionary measure of slinging out the lifeboats almost certainly resulted in that fact that 21 out of the 25 man crew were saved and they managed to pull away from their sinking ship to a place of safety. Steam Ship Cambank broke in her middle section and the stern and stem raised up out of the water before sinking into the sea. The ship sank in approximately only 15 minutes. Three crew members died in the engine/boiler room and on member of the crew drowned trying to reach the already launched lifeboat. The dead were Joseph W Boyle [30] 3rd engineer, Michael Lynch [30] fireman, Robert Quigley [34] donkeyman and Charles Sinclair [36] fireman. Several other members of the crew had narrow escapes because they were asleep in their cabins and due to rapid flooding of the ship. Other crew members had to deal with door and door frames that had been bent or twisted and were therefore difficult to open etc. These must have been terrifying moments for the crew and at least one member of the ship's company, swore never to go back to the sea and instead joined the army. On shore they were treated as hero's and the local people provided them with care and comfort whilst they were being repatriated to their families. Eleven members of SS Cambank's crew were from Cardiff. These sailors had lost everything they owned which was on the ship and some came ashore in only their pyjamas. Spare clothes were found and given to them and even although they appeared a bit destitute when they eventually arrived home to their families, at least they had survived. The precautionary actions taken by Captain Thomas Richard Prescott without doubt saved many lives that day. A man of good judgement and with ample common sense.

Here we have 2 photographs of HMS Bonaventure :- [a] The photograph was taken in 1945 in the Pacific and there are 3 American submarines berthed alongside HMS Bonaventure and an 'X' craft [midget submarine] passing the bow of the submarines. [b] The second photograph was taken after HMS Bonaventure was returned to her original owner.

Hi, '''The real 'X' Men by Robert Lyman.''' Captain William Fell was a major player in these special operations during the Second World War and later commanded HMS Bonaventure in the Pacific and was therefore Yeoman of Signals George Christie's Captain. Captain William Fell, nicknamed 'Tiny' due to his small size, in March of 1942 was 45 years old. Captain Fell commanded the Infantry Assault Ship ''HMS Princes Charles.'' He had previously served in submarines and ''Q'' Ships and he was given the assignment to introduce and train for the new methods of Naval warfare ie Chariots, new re-breather sets and diving suits and later train the operators of the Midget Submarines etc. In late 1942 to January of 1943, Midget Submarines X5 to X10 arrived on the scene and Captain P. Q. Roberts was the commander of the 'X' craft depot ship HMS Bonaventure, of the 12th Submarine Flotilla, at Loch Striven, on the West Coast of Scotland. Captain Fell then initiated the training programme for the Midget Submarines and their crews and started planning for '''Operation Source''' which was to attack the '''Tirpitz''' located in Norway. HMS Bonaventure, could lift 4 midget submarine craft onto her decks simultaneously and was staffed with specialists of every kind and had fully equipped workshops and could also provide accommodation for all the 'X' craft crews. That is why HMS Bonaventure was the mother-ship for these special operations and equipment. On the 5th of September in 1943, 6 'X' craft were winched onto HMS Bonaventure to receive their specialist side charges. The crews also received their final intelligence briefing regarding the German warship ''Tirpitz.'' ''Operation Source '' was about the begin. On the 11th of September in 1943, the 6 'X' craft sitting alongside their mother-ship prepared to leave for Norway. British submarines then each towed a single midget submarine to the coast of Norway. There has been much written about this successful attack on the Tirpitz which caused so much damage that she was put out of action for many months and this allowed the Royal Air Force to mount a final attack on the ship using the biggest bombs of the Second World War. The bravery of the midget submarine crews was recognised with the presentation of 2 Victoria Cross's being awarded and various other bravery medals were issued to other team members. HMS Bonaventure was also responsible for the naval operations that involved the ''Chariot'' [underwater vehicles] and their story is fully recorded on many sites. Whenever the 'X' craft were deployed, the submarine depot ship HMS Bonaventure would be ensuring their every need was covered ie maintenance, repairs, training etc. The 'X' craft were used to test the security at the Royal Navy's base at Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands. The 'X' craft assisted with critical support for the Normandy invasion by surveying the Allied beaches to ensure their suitability for the landing craft and other vehicles. Sand samples and maps showing the defensive measures that were being taken at the landing sites were recorded etc. The 'X' craft were designed so that the crew ''diver'' could enter and leave the submerged midget submarine whenever needed. Captain William [Tiny] Fell took over the command of HMS Bonaventure in December of 1943 and was ordered to prepare and depart for operations in the Pacific Ocean. HMS Bonaventure would be part of the 14th Submarine Flotilla and started her journey to Australia on the 21st of February in 1945. On the 20th of March in 1945 HMS Bonaventure reached Pearl Harbour and then sailed on to Brisbane. The American Navy originally did not want to have anything to do with Captain William Fell and with HMS Bonaventure and her cargo of midget submarines. Then American Admiral Jimmy Fife visited the unit and travelled in one of the midget submarines and was extremely impressed. The American Navy then in May of 1945, requested 'X' craft and HMS Bonaventure to cut the Japanese communications cables ie the Saigon communications cable and the Hong Kong communications cable. Since the Americans had already cracked the Japanese military codes they wanted all Japanese messages to be sent by radio, rather than go by communications cables laid in the sea which were secure. The training and planning for these operations immediately began. The midget submarines successfully cut and destroyed the cables. The Japanese warship Takao was also listed to be attacked and again the 'X' craft successfully completed their task and this resulted in the Takao settling on the bottom of the harbour. This particular operation resulted in another 2 Victoria Cross's being awarded and other bravery medals being presented to the 'X' craft crews. HMS Bonaventure was the most decorated ship in the Royal Navy during World War 2 and there was even 100 ''Mentioned in Dispatches'' awarded and Yeoman of Signals George Christie was one such individual who was recorded as having received this honour. It is interesting to note that American Admiral Jimmy Fife assumed command for these operations and the Admiral with ninety of his staff took over HMS Bonaventure during this period. ''The End.'' I hope I have not made too many mistakes because I am not the greatest typist.

Hi, '''C/JX143528 Commissioned Communications Officer George Christie serving on HMS Belfast during the Korean War. HMS Belfast is a Town-class light cruiser and was built in 1939. HMS Belfast saw action in 1950-52 during the Korean War. HMS Belfast carried out coastal patrols and supported United Nations troops with bombardment of various targets. In September of 1951, HMS Belfast provided anti-aircraft cover for the salvage operation to recover a crashed enemy MIG15 jet fighter. In 1952, HMS Belfast was hit by enemy fire and a 75mm shell struck a forward compartment killing a British sailor. On the 27th of September in 1952, HMS Belfast was relieved and sailed back to the UK. HMS Belfast had steamed 80,000 miles in the combat zone and fired more than 8.000 rounds from her 6 inch guns. HMS Belfast was also commended for her accurate gunfire support during her service in Korea. HMS Belfast was a very active Royal Navy ship during her time in the Korean War theatre. C/JX143528 Commissioned Communications Officer [Cd. C.O.] [Lieutenant] George Christie was awarded the British and United Nations Korean War medals and was also presented with the '''Captain's Certificate for serving with HMS Belfast during the Korean War. [Both the certificates with the medals are the original certificates issued.]

Hi, ''''' Midget Submarines and 4 VC's.''''' This relates to the career of '''C/JX143528 Yeoman of Signals George Christie,''' serving on HMS Bonaventure which was a Submarine Depot Ship - midget submarines. Later promoted to '''Communications Officer, Lieutenant''' and serving with HMS Belfast during the Korean War. Yeoman of Signals George Christie - HMS Bonaventure. HMS Bonaventure was built as a merchant ship for the Clan Line Company and was launched on the 27th of October in 1942. The ship was converted and commissioned into the Royal Navy on the 26th of January in 1943. The ship's original name was 'Clan Davidson' but for the foreseeable future it would be HMS Bonaventure, a Submarine Depot Ship. Therefore the crew would have been selected and assigned prior to the ship's commissioning. The crew would have included many different specialist trades etc as HMS Bonaventure was fitted with workshops and other engineering facilities. Yeoman of Signals George Christie was probably part of that original crew selected to man the ship after its conversion and commissioning. All the crew would have been aware of the ship's secret training and assignments and security would have been very tight. The training was mainly done in West Coast of Scotland. The crew would have been proud of their part in these special operations etc. HMS Bonaventure had three Captains during her naval service and all of them were ex-submariners and each one was an extremely capably Commander. By all accounts it was a happy crew and ship and so we suspect George Christie was a happy crewman during these busy and exciting times with HMS Bonaventure. He was part of a crew that was very close and technically proficient. HMS Bonaventure's specialist equipment included 'chariots' and 'X craft' [midget submarines] and in September of 1943 these 'X' craft successfully attacked the 'Tirpitz.' Two Victoria Crosses were awarded to personnel who carried out this operation and the other personnel were awarded various bravery medals. George Christie and the rest of the HMS Bonaventure's crew must have been excited and delighted with these honours. HMS Bonaventure was assigned to carry out operations in the Far East and there were now 12 new 'XE' Craft available. On the 21st of February in 1945 HMS Bonaventure, under the command of Captain William Fell sailed towards their new destination in the Far East. HMS Bonaventure and its crew were excited about the approaching contact with the American continent. Unfortunately her journey to the Far East was to be guarded by the highest level of security. In Trinidad HMS Bonaventure was forced to anchor out of sight of land and no leave was allowed. The leave embargo was repeated at both ends of the Panama Canal and this created curiosity with the local people who believed the crew were being kept aboard because of a mutiny etc. The leave ban continued in San Diego, California and they even received invitations for parties to visit Hollywood, Los Angeles and Beverley Hills but the official decision remained unbent. The arrival at Pearl Harbour brought good news that leave was granted and the American hospitality was excellent but word also came to Captain William R. Fell's attention that Admiral Nimitz no longer wanted to employ the 'X' craft in the Pacific naval war. HMS Bonaventure then proceeded to Manus, in the Admiralty Islands and then south to Brisbane in Australia. The crew received a warm welcome and exceptional hospitality from the Australians. On the 16th of April in 1945, C/JX143528 Yeoman of Signals George Christie, being a crewman aboard HMS Bonaventure was awarded the '''Royal Kingdom of the Sea Certificate,''' for crossing the Latitude 00-00. This ceremony and the awarding of the certificate was a Royal Navy tradition, Captain William R. Fell signed the certificate. The other major operation that the midget submarines and HMS Bonaventure undertook in the Far East was the successful attack on the Japanese warship '''Takao.' The Takao operation resulted in a further 2 Victoria Crosses being awarded and other bravery medals being issued to personnel who participated in the Takao and in the destruction of the International Communications Cables operations. These successful operations again must have made the ships crew feel very proud. These operations were authorised because of the hard work put in by Captain Fell in convincing the Americans his men to do these special operations. With the end of the war in the Far East came the dissolution of the 14th Submarine Flotilla and this took place in Sydney. There were Victory Parades and end-of-war parties, the crew were given leave and everywhere there was celebrations. HMS Bonaventure was stripped of her 'X' craft and equipment pertaining to them very quickly and was used for '''trooping and running stores between Sydney and Hong Kong. Some of HMS Bonaventure's crew were sent home or appointed to other jobs and HMS Bonaventure was later returned to her owners and she was again given her original name of '''Clan Davidson.''' I suspect that George Christie was an original member of the ship's crew but we can definitely evidence his involvement with the Pacific operations because he was issued with the '''Lat 00-00 Certificate''' and he was also '''Mentioned in Dispatches''' for his work with HMS Bonaventure during this period and this was recorded in January of 1946's New Years Honour List. George Christie was later promoted to '''Commissioned Communications Officer''' and served aboard HMS Belfast during the Korean War. I will add on information about his involvement in the Korean War later...................

I have attached more details on his life and service with the Royal Navy....he was obviously very proud of his medals because there is some wear to the Royal Victorian Medal due to over cleaning of the medal.

Hi, ''Queen Victoria's Funeral on the 2nd of February in 1901.'' ''Sailors of the Guard of Honour [Royal Navy] at Windsor pulling the funeral gun-carriage which carried Queen Victoria's coffin. The Royal Yacht Alberta transported Queen Victoria's coffin from the Isle of Wight to Portsmouth and at Clarence Victualling Yard a 100 bluejackets [sailors] from Excellent and 200 marines from Forton Barracks formed up on the dockside. The Royal Train then took Queen Victoria's coffin and the Royal Party to London where the Funeral Parade passed through the capital and then the Royal Train took the Royal Party to Windsor. At Windsor Railway Station the Parade formed up and just as the order was given to move off, one of the horses pulling the funeral carriage, reared up and fell over. It soon became apparent that the tracers [harnesses] were utterly tangled. Prince Louis suggested that the Honour Party from the Royal Navy [100 sailors] could manhandle the funeral carriage. The Honour Party from the Royal Navy soon improvised make shift tracers [harnesses] so that they could carry out this task. This was done much against the wishes from the artillery/Army which had been detailed to be in command of the horses and the gun-carriage. The whole process and changes were successfully completed and many believe it even enhanced the appearance and balance of the parade. 184104 Able Seaman Edward Borley was one of the sailors in the Guard of Honour on that historic day and helped pull the carriage that carried Queen Victoria coffin. Able Seaman Edward Borley was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Bronze for his assistance on that day in 1901 - along with the other 99 sailors involved. I have attached a photograph of his medals :- Royal Victorian medal in Bronze - British War medal - Royal Navy long service medal [Coastguard]. Awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class [on BWM] and later Leading Boatman E Borley [on R.N. L.S.G.C.]. I have included in Royal Navy service record and other information......

Part 2 - 'It only takes one person to remember.' Andy Brown was the 15 year old boy who took part in the original 4 member search team in February of 1942. Finding the Wellington Bomber and knowing that its 8 man aircrew had died must have created memories that would remain with him for the rest of his life. Andy Brown believed there should have been a memorial to them and so in 1999 he applied to the Ministry of Defence for permission to recover the Pegasus engines from the R1646 crash site. The engines could only be removed from the site by helicopter and a RAF Sea King helicopter from Lossiemouth was requested to assist in this operation. A big problem was getting the two engines off the hillside and to a place where it would be safe for a helicopter to airlift them from the crash site and to their new temporary home. This is where the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regiment volunteer and came to the rescue of the project. The regiment was part of the Royal Guard at Balmoral Castle in 1999 and interestingly they had also been part of the guard at RAF Lossiemouth in 1942. The two engines were successfully taken to Andy Brown's workshop where one of the engines was prepared to be part of the official memorial and I believe the other engine was going to a local museum. On Thursday the 21st of August in 2003, the memorial was unveiled by Princes Anne in Braemar. The District Pipe Band payed, the boys and girls of the local Air Training Corps provided the Guard of Honour, representatives from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and their Shetland Pony mascot and RAF Lossiemouth all attended, along with many other representatives and people. There was even a 'fly past' by a Tornado aircraft from 15 Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth. The Wellington Bomber's 8 man crew were made up from individuals from the UK but also from Australia, Canada and New Zealand and so their flags were flying and wreaths were laid on behalf of these countries as well. By all accounts it appeared to be a very grand and special day for all those involved in the memorial service and even after over 60 years since their deaths, they had not been forgotten.

Hi, Imagine it is February in 1942 and the Second World War is being fought in many places around the world. You are in Braemar Village which is in Aberdeenshire, in the Scottish Highlands. Braemar Village is approximately 58 miles from Aberdeen and that you are a Scottish Police Constable serving on the Home Front. [Braemar is the place where they hold the 'Royal Highland Games.] As Private Fraser from Dad's Army might say, 'it is a wild and lonely place.' Most of the able bodied men have gone to serve in the armed forces and it was mainly the young and the old and those in reserved occupations that have been left behind. In fact it is one of the worst winters they have ever seen. Heavy snow falls and bitterly cold temperatures and freezing winds that just cut through you to the bone. But life must go on and Gamekeeper James Wright is out in the hills checking on the deer on the Estate and using his telescope spots something strange and it appears to look like the tail section of an aircraft. It would be impossible for James Wright to reach this spot because of the deep snow and the distance involved. Later that day Gamekeeper James Wright reached the nearest village which was Braemar and reported what he had seen to the local Police Constable James Gerrie who immediately telephoned his Headquarters to find out if any aircraft were missing. Police Constable James Gerrie was informed that no aircraft were missing. James Wright was also a member of the local Home Guard and was convinced he saw what he saw and that was part of an aircraft on the snow covered hillside. Police Constable James Gerrie decided that on the following morning he would lead a search party to the scene of this mysterious object. The party would include Gamekeeper James Wright and William Brown who was a council employee and who would drive the lorry with the snow plough attached and William Brown's 15 year old son Andy Brown. Remember most of the abled bodied men had already gone off to war. The snow plough could only take them so far and then they had to trek the rest of the way. The conditions were slightly better when the snow was frozen on the surface but at times the snow was powdery and they then found themselves waist deep in the snow. Eventually they reached the same position that James Wright had been in the day before on discovering the object using his telescope but they still could not be sure if this was part of an aircraft or just ice on some rocks. Therefore the small party had to continue on for a further mile or two to reach the site. Gamekeeper James Wright had been right, the search party found the sun was glinting off the glass from the rear gun turret and from the tail of the aircraft. Unfortunately the party could do nothing for the 8 dead aircrew buried under the snow as the weather conditions were too severe. They had found Wellington Bomber [R1646] which had crashed approximately one month before which was on a training flight from 20 Operational Training Unit from Lossiemouth. The RAF were informed of the discovery on the 22nd of February in 1942 and a surveying unit was sent to the scene of the crash to investigate. The weather conditions were so severe over the Winter that the 8 bodies of the crew had remained on the snow covered hillside for two months. On the 2nd of March in 1942, the remains of the majority of the crew were buried in Braemar churchyard. I have attached a photograph of Police Sergeant James Gerrie's medals. more photographs.....

Here we have a small but interesting article from the Dundee Courier, dated Wednesday the 10th of October in 1877. Therefore the story is 143 years old and is titled '''London Policemen and their Beards - City of London Policemen denied the right to have beards.''' London Policemen and their Beards - London City Police Constables are complaining of the regulation which denies them the privilege long since conceded to the Metropolitan Police of wearing beards and moustaches. ''Of course writes one, if beards are wrong in one place, they are wrong in another.'' In Victorian London, especially as early as 1877, I would suspect many men would rather have facial hair than shave every day and that during the winter months this would be especially true. Did the City of London Police think their men looked smarter when ''clean shaven'' or was it a personal safety issue ie to stop attackers gaining an advantage by grabbing the beards of the Policemen etc. When you look at some of the old photographs of Victorian Policemen ........ their beards are certainly full on and extensive in size but that suggestion would not explain the regulation which denied them having moustaches.

Hi, I remember many years ago watching the film, '''Battle of the River Pate,''' and this event in history really impressed me because many years later I bought a set of naval medals which were directly connected to the, '''end of the Admiral Graf Spee.''' I should point out I am not a collector of military medals and only have a few examples in my collection. M38967 Petty Officer Thomas George Wilcox, HMS Cumberland, Royal Navy, I was there to witness the end of the heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, scuttled in the River Plate estuary, at Montevideo, in neutral Uruguay. After the engagement between the German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee and the Royal Navy ships HMS Achilles, Ajax and Exeter, the Admiral Graf Spee dropped anchor in the River Plate estuary, at Montevideo, in Uruguay. This occurred at approximately 00.10 hours on the 14th of December in 1939. The River Plate estuary runs between Uruguay and Argentina. This was the first naval battle to be fought in the Second World War. At 22.00 hours on the 14th of December in 1939, HMS Cumberland arrived at the scene of the '''Battle of the River Plate,''' after steaming 1,165 miles in 34 hours. HMS Cumberland had sailed from the Falkland Island to reinforce HMS Achilles, Ajax and Exeter who had engaged the German heavy cruiser. All of these Royal Navy ships were part of '''Force G''' of the South American Squadron.''' The arrival of HMS Cumberland also replaced the heavily damaged HMS Exeter who left the area due to being badly damaged and required urgent emergency repairs. Of all the ships present, HMS Cumberland would have been the only ship that could have fought at full capacity because all of the remaining vessels had already expended much of their ammunition stock. On the 17th of December in 1939, Captain Langsdorff chose to scuttle the Admiral Graf Spee in the River Plate Estuary and the crew were taken to Buenos Aires, in Argentina and placed in internment. On the 19th of December in 1939, Captain Langsdorff committed suicide by gunshot. M38967 Petty Officer Thomas George Wilcox was serving on HMS Cumberland during this period and was a witness to this famous event. On the 11th of April in 1940, C/M38967 PO Thomas George Wilcox was presented with his Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct medal whilst attached to HMS Cumberland. In September of 1940, HMS Cumberland was involved in the '''Battle of Dakar.''' This was an unsuccessful attempt to capture the port of Dakar in French West Africa and to overthrow the Vichy French administration in the colony. HMS Cumberland suffered some damage during this operation and PO Thomas George Wilcox was serving on the ship during the engagement. On the 14th of November in 1940 there is an entry in PO Thomas George Wilcox seaman's records which stated he is now '''ST C.P.O. Sy''' and was assigned to the establishment of Pembroke. [Pembroke/UK] This entry relates to the fact that Thomas George Wilcox was now suffering from T.B. [tuberculosis] and was removed from HMS Cumberland. Obviously it was necessary to immediately isolate him and then remove him from the ship, as a matter of urgency. The original research stated that C.P.O. Thomas George Wilcox was interned in Rio de Janeiro on the 29/1/1941 and this may be the officially correct date because since he was suffering from T.B. he could not be placed immediately into an internment camp. Therefore he may well have spent the period from 14/11/1940 to 28/1/1941 recuperating from his ill-health in another establishment. On the 21st of April in 1945 there is a '''secret paper L3061/45 from the B.N.A. Buenos Aires.''' [British Naval Attache] The document stated that Thomas George Wilcox had been released from internment and would be placed at the disposal of the Embassy. This information is recorded on his personal seaman's service record. Thomas George Wilcox was listed as being a P.O.W. and was finally declared medically unfit for further service by the Royal Navy Hospital Chatham on the 8/8/1945. One aspect of the story that I am not sure about is....did his internment involve Argentina or Brazil. I would suspect since the original secret message was from the British Naval Attache in Buenos Aires, that this means he was interned in Argentina but the original research mentioned Rio de Janeiro which is in Brazil.

Many thanks for the update, I did not even realise this was an America form and it make sense that the 8055 MASH would have completed the documentation. It was the story of ''Gunner Michael Banbury'' I just could not resist because military medals are not really in my collecting area. Although I have one or two examples in my collection. Alan.

Even in 1952 the British Army was very careful and professional when dealing with those who had died. Gunner Michael Banbury's body came directly from the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital but the British Army personnel were extremely careful when identifying the body and the recording process was fully documented. Here are some parts of the forms used when they dealt with the body of Gunner Michael Banbury.

Hi, '22546434 Gunner Michael Banbury died in Korea, in 1952.' Michael Banbury was born on the 26th of February in 1930 in Blaby, in Leicestershire. On the 7th of December in 1950, he elected to be a regular soldier with the Royal Artillery, on a five-year engagement with seven years in the reserve. 22546434 Gunner Michael Banbury served in Korea with the 61st Light Regiment, 120 Battery, in 'E' Troop. The 61st Light Regiment which was equipped with the 4.2 inch mortar was originally designed to be an infantry weapon to give greater firepower and range than the standard 2 or 3 inch mortars. It was a much more sophisticated weapon than the other mortars, firing a 20lb bomb out to a maximum range of 4,200 yards, proved to be unsuitable for the infantry and was given to the Royal Artillery. It was a particularly effective weapon in hilly or mountainous environments and was therefore well suited to the conditions in Korea. The 61st Light Regiment was a Divisional Regiment and was formed in Korea when the Commonwealth Division was formed. It had three light mortar batteries ie 42 Battery, 120 Battery and the 248 Battery and one locating/anti aircraft battery, 15 Battery. The mortar could be operated in one of two ways, the normal method was using a wheeled base plate on which it was mounted and the alternative method was using a 'static' base plate to which the tripod, sight and barrel was fitted. The base plate weighed about 120lbs and could be man packed into forward positions. On the 13th of August in 1952, the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment began active patrols which were designed to capture Chinese prisoners. The following is taken from the book, 'From the Imjin to the Hook,' by James Jacobs. ''''Early in August, 42 and 120 Batteries changed positions, with 'D' Troop moving to the north-east of Hill 187N and 'E' Troop to the south-east of Hill 210. By mid-August, 'E' Troop occupied a position in support of an operation of 28 Britcom Brigade with the tanks of 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards [5RIDG] deploying to the tops of the ridges in close proximity to 'E' Troop mortars.This was much too close as far as 'E' Troop were concerned, as immediately a tank poked its gun and turret above the skyline the Chinese would start to shell it. One tank sitting on top of Hill 210 was particularly singled out but most of the shells were ranging just over the tank, landing among 'E' Troop gun pits, killing Gunner Banbury which did not go down at all well with his mates who made a few choice comments about tanks being so close at hand. Also wounded were Gunners Allen and McCricket and Pak Jai-sok, one of 'E' Troop's loyal porters. Such are the hazards of war,'''' Actually Gunner Michael Banbury was severely wounded on the 27th of August in 1952 by a penetrating shell splinter wound to the abdomen and was evacuated to 8055 MASH [Mobile Army Surgical Hospital] but died the next day on the 28th of August in 1952. Gunner Michael Banbury was buried Plot 31, Row 9, Grave 7, at Pusan Cemetery, on the 2nd of September in 1952 at 13.40hrs by the Rev. J F Lyall. Gunner Michael Banbury was only 22 years old, five feet seven inches tall, weighed 170lbs and had red hair when he died. Awarded the British and United Nations Korean medals. An interesting point to the story is that Doctor Richard Hornberger was serving at 8055 MASH, in Korea, at the same time as Gunner Michael Banbury was taken to this Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Doctor Richard Hornberger wrote the book which resulted in the film and hit T.V. series 'M.A.S.H.' The last episode of this famous comedy T.V. series, about a Field Hospital in Korea, was on the 28th of February in 1983 and was watched by a record breaking 121 million viewers in America.

This is just a quick and small correction to Arthur Sawyer's details........ Arthur Sawyer was born on the 28th of April in 1850 and was baptised on the 25th of May in 1851 at Saint Paul, in Hammersmith, Hammersmith and Fulham. This means he was 21 years old when he joined the Metropolitan Police. I had originally stated he was born in 1852 which was a mistake.

Here we have some basic details on Police Sergeant Archibald Edward Sawyer who is Arthur Sawyer's son. This is the final part in this Metropolitan Police ''Sawyer family story'' of service with the Constabulary. On the 18th of December in 1885, Archibald Edward Sawyer is born in Stepney in London. Archibald Edward Sawyer's father is Arthur Sawyer who is a Police Constable with the Metropolitan Police. On the 25th of February in 1907, Archibald Edward Sawyer joins the Metropolitan Police and is issued with the warrant number of 94267 and is assigned to Islington or 'N' division. On the 29th of February in 1932, Station Police Sergeant Archibald Edward Sawyer retires on pension from Bow or 'K' division and the Metropolitan Police. In 1932 Archibald Edward Sawyer is described as being 46 years old, five feet and nine and a half inches tall, has dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Here are some basic details on Police Constable James Sawyer who was Arthur Sawyer's father. Note that on his Metropolitan Police pension records it states that Police Constable James Sawyer retired on pension because he was '''''worn out.''' It is refreshing that the Victorians, in this case, did not mince their words. James Sawyer was born on the 22nd of February in 1821, in Down, in Kent and his son was Arthur Sawyer who later followed in his fathers footsteps and also joined the Metropolitan Police. On the 29th of May in 1843 James Sawyer joins the Metropolitan Police and is assigned to Kensington or 'T' division and served his whole career within this division. [later this division is called ''Hammersmith division.] On the 9th of December in 1868, Police Constable James Sawyer retires on pension from 'T' division and the Metropolitan Police and on his pension records it states he resigned on ''''being worn out.'''' In 1868, James Sawyer was 47 years old and five feet ten and a half inches tall, had black hair turning grey, hazel eyes and had a dark complexion.

Hi, Research done so far......this is another Whitechapel Police Constable that was part of the team hunting JTR. Police Constable Arthur Sawyer.....a good, solid and reliable Police Constable who served in Whitechapel or 'H' division during the Jack the Ripper murders. Arthur Sawyer was born in Hammersmith, in Middlesex, in 1852. Arthur Sawyer joined the Metropolitan Police on the 8th of May in 1871. Police Constable Arthur Sawyer was issued with the warrant number of 54145 and was assigned to St James's or 'C' division. Police Constable Arthur Sawyer, at some later point, transferred to Whitechapel or 'H' division. In 1887, Police Constable Arthur Sawyer was awarded the Queen Victoria Metropolitan Police Jubilee medal for 1887 for being on duty during Queen Victoria's Parade through London whilst serving with Whitechapel or 'H' division. In 1888, Police Constable Arthur Sawyer was serving in Whitechapel or 'H' division throughout the reign of terror during the Jack the Ripper murders and almost certainly would have been a '1st Class Constable' at the time and had approximately 17 years experience/service and was 37 years of age. It is reasonable to suggest he must have been a good and reliable Police Constable within the division. In 1888, the divisional establishment for Whitechapel or 'H' division was 219 1st Class Police Constables, 114 2nd Class Police Constables and 173 3rd Class Police Constables. The total establishment for Whitechapel or 'H' division was 587 Police Officers. I would suspect all Metropolitan Police divisions were running undermanned compared to their official establishment levels. Police Constable Arthur Sawyer was also serving in Whitechapel or 'H' division in 1889 etc and therefore was present when local murders caused false alarms and panic that Jack the Ripper might have returned. In 1897, Police Constable Arthur Sawyer was awarded the Queen Victoria Metropolitan Police Clasp for 1897 for being on duty during Queen Victoria's Parade through London whilst serving with Whitechape or ''H' division. On the 6th of June in 1898, Police Constable Arthur Sawyer retired on pension from Whitehapel or 'H' division and the Metropolitan Police. Summary........................ Police Constable Arthur Sawyer's father 'James Sawyer' was also a Metropolitan Police Constable and served his whole pensionable engagement within the Hammersmith [Kensington] or 'T' division of the Metropolitan Police. Therefore Arthur Sawyer came from a Metropolitan Police family background. This tradition continued even after Police Constable Arthur Sawyer retired from the Metropolitan Police because his son 'Archibald Edward Sawyer' followed in his fathers footsteps and joined the Metropolitan Police. Police Constable Archibald Edward Sawyer joined in 1907 and retired on pension as a Station Police Sergeant in 1932. I believe, it is reasonable to suggest that Police Constable Arthur Sawyer must have been a good, solid and reliable Police Constable and that any Victorian Policeman who managed to complete his pensionable engagement with the Metropolitan Police, obviously had the necessary determination and strength of character which was needed to complete such a task.