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    captainofthe7th

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    Posts posted by captainofthe7th

    1. Hi all -- I received this battledress jacket today and am interested in understanding when it might date from.  It has been heavily tailored from an existing battledress and generally follows the 1949 style.  No markings other than '836' penned on the belt and interior pocket, which I thought could lead to an ID as it follows the various emergency commission, Indian army, etc. type of short numbers.  There are indeed a few names, but none for this regiment up to 1947.  It has been very interesting to investigate, but believe I've used all my resources and need some help.

      Thanks,
      Robert

      PXL_20230225_221252364.jpg

      PXL_20230225_221302298.jpg

      PXL_20230225_221312908.jpg

      PXL_20230225_221328816.jpg

      PXL_20230225_221420182.jpg

    2. I'm very interested to find who won this auction:

      https://auctions.elstobandelstob.co.uk/past-auctions/elstob10034/lot-details/5a4c3e52-d387-4961-a58a-acc5014e066b?utm_source=barnebys&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=barnebys&utm_content=2021-02-20

      Had I known it was available I would have bid generously....I have been researching Durbin for a few years and sadly his collection was scattered.

      image.png.f3e2e0fa7d48b20378fc128ce571d041.png

      "A LARGE QUANTITY OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE POST WWII ERA, all relating to Capt. J T D Durbin, Gordon Highlanders in the Nigerian campaign (quantity)  The absence of a Condition Report does not imply that a lot is without imperfections. Please note carefully the exclusion of liability for the condition of lots contained in the Conditions of Sale.A large quantity, mostly well preserved and includes documents and booklets of strategic courses attended by Capt. Durbin relative to his seconded role in Nigeria."

       


      Thanks,

      Robert

    3. 4 hours ago, Baska said:

      Robert,

      I have more information on the JTD and a number of their men (Gillespie, Scott, Riordan, Goddard) in a daring, three week rescue in Dutch New Guinea in August 1944. On this rescue I wrote the book KAIS

      Bas 

      Hi Bas -- thanks for the reply, this is incredible.  I'd love to support you and purchase your book - is amazon the best place or is buying direct from you better?

      I have pretty much accepted that I won't be finding much about Jillett.  It seems like a misfit unit that no one really took responsibility for historical records and they were simply there for a crucial job.

      Feel free to email or message via my website.  I am sure I will have more questions after reading your book and especially if you have unique sources.

      Thanks,

      Robert

    4. 3 hours ago, LRRPS said:

      Yes, I own it :) Nice grouping, with lots of documents and photos. Cool part of the story for me is that Stanley Perks served in the Raiding Support Regiment during ww2. Also took part in the Battle of the Imjin River.

      Thanks for the reply!  And after many years....we meet.  :D I suspect this could be a centerpiece in any collection, but should you ever wish to pass it on, please let me know.  At the time this was for sale I had little knowledge of British items and didn't understand the price point (plus emedals is typically on the higher end) nor did I appreciate his WWII service.  Definitely a beautiful collection of items and a rare uniform.

      What sort of content is included in the photos and documents?  If you are able to photograph or scan I am always looking for units photos or notated photos and rosters to help with future research and identification.

      Thanks

      Robert

       

      P.S. you're always welcome to email or contact via my website: http://www.rcmcollection.com

    5. Hi all -- as I pick up documents, journals, and photographs I will be adding them to the Library & Archives portion of my website.  So far there are only a few items, so this is really not anything extensive, but I have dreams.  For my own interests I hope to pick up many of the issues of Tiger & Sphinx (if you have any to contribute or loan, I would appreciate it).

      https://www.rcmcollection.com/Archives

      I hope there may be something of use.

    6. On 18/05/2020 at 16:14, azyeoman said:

      Thank you very much!  I look forward to reading it.  Are you interested in Korean War medals? 

      Definitely, and I've referenced your posts often.  I have one French group I am researching but only U.S. groups for medals.  Most of the Commonwealth and other UN types are out of my budget or not identified....

       

    7. I hope this uniform is a welcome addition to the topic though it is a bit more contemporary than most of what is posted.  This came from the estate of Allan Browne who appears to have been a collector and there were a few RNF uniforms coming from him, but this was the only one marked "Brown" by the tailor so it was my choice if I could only have one, which was the case.  I hope to learn more about him though I believe he was National Service so it may be a bit difficult.  I'm in touch with the RNF museum, but things are on hold at the moment due to the virus. 

      I found the tiny pips to be of interest.  The cap and cap badge are added for display and I believe the badge may be for ORs, but I could not find a suitable officers' type and I think this will do for my needs.

      brown_RFs_u00.png

      RNF insignia.jpg

    8. Hi all -- I have another plea for help with this small group.  There was a discussion here in which a few members had a lot of info regarding a French dog tag and I was hoping I could start a similar topic.  I have reached out to a few French offices for help, but I have either not heard back or they've redirected my request.  My biggest question is: do these belong together?  I want this group to be authentic as it was one that I missed years ago and it recently appeared on ebay again.  For the price it was worth the risk.

      Next question and perhaps my main goal outside of authenticity - who is Joseph Fargues and what is his service history?  Who might I be able to contact to obtain his service file?

      I first emailed Service Historique de la Défense - they referred me to the Centre des Archives du personnel Militaire who referred me to the Archives de Paris who I have yet to hear back from.  What's next?  Does anyone here offer onsite research?

      Thank you,

      Robert

       

      fargues-1.jpg

      fargues-2.jpg

    9. Hi Dan -- thank you once again.  I have not researched much of the other Jilletts, though I was in contact briefly with the curator of the blog that your friend may have found.  It's a frequent return in google when searching.  There is a lot to read on their family history!

      The Jillett I am chasing is Richard Frank, born 9 Dec 1921 - so, from the poor end of the family.  Perhaps that was some motivation for his joining up?

      I appreciate all the help!

      Robert

    10. Hi Dan -- I would very much appreciate whatever your friend is offering.  I enjoy those personal touches to accompany items and research.

      I've reached out to one of my researcher friends here and asked him to take a lot through the morning reports for the FEAF and 13th AF units to which Jillett (and Graves) may have been attached.  I am not sure if, as foreigners, they would appear in the daily logs, but I have hope that they would and also that they're somewhat attainable based on the specific dates I have to reference.  I'll keep the thread updated with those finds.

      I did find this website which is mostly U.S. based, but very informative about the jungle rescue operations:

      http://www.pbyrescue.com/

      Most mention of Australians on that webpage have to do with RAAF detachments, not AIF / ground forces, but I think there are still many original documents that I'd have to read through as they're not searchable via text recognition.

      Thanks for the help, Dan, and pass along the word to your friend as well.  I appreciate it.

      Robert

    11. Hi Dan -- thank you for the information!  And especially for being honest about the prospect that Graves' tales may be a farce.  A great thanks to your friend as well.  His mention of ANGAU (a new term for me) is something new that I can look into and especially if they have war diaries online. 

      I'd still like to pick at this as I believe there must be some veracity to parts of Jillett's story, just not as I thought previously...do you think this is the case?  I would assume at this point that it is not a jungle rescue unit but jungle rescue duty and I quickly went down the wrong path searching in this way.  There is still some kind of tie between Jillett and Graves' service as their detachments from HQ NGF and 1st Australian Army align, as did some training including a camouflage school, which I first thought was for disguising artillery or anti-aircraft emplacements.  Jillett's Canadian discharge is pretty explicit about WWII service: "Employed in New Guinea - Philippines as jungle rescue crew."  I've attached this and will link to the Australian service files as well:

      Jillett:

      https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=4473441&T=PDF

      Graves:

      https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=5663967&isAv=N

      1554229381_ScreenShot2019-10-07at7_48_06PM.thumb.png.2df4f720912107c19dede84693772c8a.png

       

      Thank you so much for the help!

      Robert

    12. Gentlemen -  I have a challenge...

      Does anyone have information about Richard Graves' 60 man Jungle Rescue Detachment in WWII? I've found only brief mention in Graves' Bushcraft book(s) and one fiction book which I would not trust as a resource for this project. 

      I have a battledress to an Aussie who joined the Canadian Army for Korea - his Australian records note frequent detachment to U.S. Far East Air Forces (and 13th Air Force) and I initially wondered what this could indicate, assuming anti-aircraft artillery, but his Canadian file which I finally received clears this up with a brief mention of 'participated in jungle rescue' and now I am down this path. Hoping someone has something better than what I've found.

      Per a 'stub' on wikipedia about Graves and the creation of the detachment:"In the Second World War, Graves founded and led the Australian Jungle Rescue Detachment of 60 soldiers, which was attached to the Far East American Airforce. These men conducted over 300 rescues, all of which were completed successfully and without losses."

      Also a mention in an American newspaper about an Air Force pilot that dropped off 'two Aussie jungle specialists' to aid in the rescue of a downed pilot.

      This is about it.  I have searched the New Guinea Forces and other related war diaries on the AWM website with no luck.  I pulled Graves' service file and was pleased to find his detachments align with Jillett's, but still no detail about the rescue detachment.  I really would like to find more.

      Thanks,

      Robert

    13. I saw this offered on ebay and looked into it wondering if it was possible the officer served in Korea.  I contacted Audrey at Rhino Research and she came back with this:


      Charles William McKowen, No 328254

      20 documents which include Service Cards, Attestation Document, Regimental Conduct Sheet, Application for Medals, medical documents and discharge documents.

      He was discharged in June 1946, and there is no record of him having served in Korea, in this file.

      Sadly it appears to have been stripped of insignia:

      https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-S-A-A-F-Tunic-And-Sam-Browne-/323732338178?nma=true&si=Y3szPrXUBUhmnky%2FwFA0uSvzpPY%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

      Hope that helps!

      Robert

    14. Hi Caz -- I can help you out.  I will send you a PM with information, but for the sake of the forum I will detail that there are scattered online sources for U.S. research.  WWII enlistment records are very valuable.  Military Times Hall of Valor is also very detailed.  both are missing probably millions of entries, though.  Your best bet is to write to the National Personnel Records Center under Freedom of Information for records of service men discharged under 62 years ago or hire a researcher to pull the archival records.  Even writing under FOIA is spotty.  I can assist you with this if I know more details.

      Rob

    15. Hello all - I'm interested in requesting service records for at least one British Army officer.  I can not find a death record and I think the £30 price is a bit steep for what is a gamble - if he did not pass over 25 years ago I'm afraid they would not send back any useful information.

      I'm wondering if there are any independent researchers who visit the archives and can pull records?  Here in the U.S. when requesting such information we are similarly limited if we are not next of kin.  Requesting direct from the records center ranges from $35 to $75 and you never know if it will be useful information.  So, I use a researcher/collector friend who is reliable and knows what to look for.  Does anyone do this in the U.K.?  Is it allowed?  Would this yield more useful information?

      Thanks for the help,

      Robert

    16. Ah, thank you, Jerry!  That makes sense now that both would show up frequently in searches.  

      Now, post-1958 I understand that all regiments of the Lowland Brigade adopted the same cap badge, correct?  So, Sommerville would have had this battledress with the officer's type bronze collar badges and worn a bonnet with RS tartan and the Lowland Brigade badge rather than the RS badge?

      Thank you!

      Robert

    17. Hi all -- I am looking for a pair of bronze collar badges to restore to a battledress (1950s era) that was worn by an officer of the Royal Scots.  I am having great difficulty identifying the proper badge worn.  I have this page printed from an unknown source that I received years ago with a purchase.  You can see here that the badges look like those that I am finding for the Scots Guards (and the first-third rows on the image from 'the saleroom').  I find a lot of another type of badge for the 1st RS with the thistle, some holly leaves it looks like, and Royal Scots on a scroll beneath (see fourth-sixth rows).

      Which is the correct badge??  I know they must be the bronze service dress style, but which of the two should I be seeking?

      Here is the uniform I have.  The pocket buttons are regimental and beneath the tartan is a ghost of the Lowland Brigade (or 52d Division).

      sommerville_U00.thumb.png.a18bf6b7d65808714ca5abf48864b927.png

       

       

      And the reference page that had be chasing what I think is the insignia for Scots Guards.  Sorry for the poor quality, I snapped it quickly in low light this morning.

      1stRSref.thumb.jpg.0b8bb0b7b7d728774d00c6b950f9405e.jpg

       

      And last, the image from the saleroom auction site that shows both types together.

      RSbadges_saleroom.thumb.jpg.59399f004952128dad7ff4fe6e6508af.jpg

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