Brian Wolfe

Hello Everyone, I purchased this post card as it was offered as a photo of an English field telephone and I though it would go well with my communications collection. When it arrived I noted the following. The hat badges look to be Artillery and while there is a fellow in the front right of the photo wearing a headset he seems to be holding a pocket watch. The fellow to the right of centre looks to be in the act of surveying. This is not what made me wonder about this post card. It is a photo of English soldiers but the caption is in German and as best as I can figure it says, " World War 1914/15 - English telepnone on the western theater of war." The post card was sent from a German soldier of the 14 Infantry Regt. 6th Company. The signature on the back is up side down and I hope it shows in the photos. Has anyone else encountered German photo postcards with English military subjects? I wonder how they would have come by such postcards. If someone could assist me with the translation of the written message on the back of the card it would be greatly appreciated. Regards Brian

Great post! I really like the military hardware. Regards Brian

A great piece of family history. I like what has been done to the original photo, it's amazing what can be done. I'm glad you posted it here as I think more of the membership will get to see it and read your interesting write up. Regards Brian

That may very well be as if he were to have joined the Specials for the Second World War the SC Medal would have been King George VI not V. An interesting suggestion Mervyn and one, I must admit, had not entered my mind - though it is a small target. Regards Brian

I save the photo to my desk top, then import in into my Photoshop7 (soon to be Photoshop8, when I get loaded). With the Photoshop I resize the photo to 25%. Once this is done I then follow the directions on the GMIC and bingo it is on the post. You may have to resize your photo to 20% due to restrictions. If you don't have Photoshop then I am lost. Perhaps the other members will be of more help. Good luck. Regards Brian

Outstanding sword, Mervyn. Thanks for posting it. Regards Brian

Welcome to the GMIC. An interesting publication, can you tell us more? Regards Brian

So often the civic-minded individual who joined the Special Constabulary had served in the military. Others served with other organizations at the same time as they were a Special Constable. I will endevor to post some of the groups in my collection that includes the Special Constabuary L.S.G.C. Medal. The first is a group awarded to: R. (Robert) Hunt A.B. R.N. The WWI Victory Medal medal is to R. Hunt and the Special Constabulary Medal is named Robert Hunt. The BWM is unnamed, the original name being carefully erased. The ribbon bar shown came with the group but I do not believe it was prat of the original group. I have tried to find out more about Robert Hunt but there seems to be nothing in the National Archives. Perhaps with luck I will be able to add more information at a later date when it becomes available. The ribbon bar is attached to the original card that came from the manufacturer. Regards Brian

For what it is worth, the sword looks to be the Cavalry Sabre Type 32 c.1899 which was used through the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) up to and including WWII. I would say that he was in the cavalry as if his rank is sergeant and he is Imperial Army then the sword would have been the NCO Shin-gunto. It should be remembered that it was not uncommon for soldiers to borrow a sword for a photo. I've seen many examples of I.A. privates with an NCO Shin-gunto which was just for the photo - and maybe to impress a young lady back home? I've tried to photograph the sword at the same angle for comparison. Use the "Ctrl +" trick to zoom in on the soldier's sword to compair. Regards Brian

This just in on Friday. It speaks for itself. Measurements = 5 3/4 X 9 inches (14.5cm X 23cm). Regards Brian

Hi Leigh, Good one, that sure makes sense. So much for me looking too deeply for symbolism. Regards Brian

You're evil, and my kind of collector. Brian

I don't know the specific reasons for the scallop shell on the Grimsby badge but the scallop has been used as a symbol of St. James, Methodism and fertility; there are probably other meanings but that's all I can recall at the moment. Regards Brian

I was talking about the seat...but the plane would be a nice addition. I keep telling my wife that there is a small jet fighter in the grounds of a large flea market we know of (not for sale) that would look great in the side yard of our property. She says that it had better have a bed in it as that would be where i would have to live. I guess she would feel the same about a tank. Regards Brian

Here's the write-up on the flip-side. I think it is pretty accurate, besides, if you can't trust a tabacco company just who can you trust? :whistle:

This is something I just got in that is a bit of whimsy but I think it fits the thread. I don't remember these cards from when I was a kid and my father always smoked Players Navy Cut cigarettes. Perhaps this was not available here in Canada. Anyway the item is self-explanatory. Regards Brian

Hi Tomas, That's an impressive piece of hardware. Is it part of your collection? Thanks for posting it. Regards Brian

While I agree with the 1928 "looking cooler" I would have to go with the M1A1 just because of its military use. I don't own either and probably never will but that's my opinion. Regards Brian

Hi Keenan, Nice rifle. I had one of these a number of years ago and I always wondered about the back site. I was told that they were intended to allow the rifleman to shoot at aircraft that were attacking and the wide part of the sight allowed them to judge distance - or perhaps to lead the aircraft. I thought it would have been futile for a soldier to even bother taking the shot but the fellow who told me this said he agreed as far as one man but several soldiers firing may have made the difference. I offer this not so much as a fact but to hear if you or any of the other members have heard this. Thanks for posting your Arisaka. Regards Brian

That's very impressive, Noor. What a great medal for your first US WWI Victory Medal, I've still to get one. Regards Brian

Thank you very much Paul. You have cleared up the mystery. Any other information on this officer would be greatly appreciated. Regards Brian

Very nice documents indeed. I have one coming to me somewhere between the U.K. and here. I though it was a nice document until I saw these. I'll post it anyway when it arrives. It'll be the ugly duckling. Regards Brian

I almost hate to comment on this post as it will separate the written part from the images; so anyone reading this please note there is another part to Ian's post. It is not often that we think of an armed "Bobby"; too many old "period" films have shapped our views. Swords and pistols, while not always carried, were important peices of equipment. I guess it's like today's police services. When you get to see the weapons they have in reserve for those "Kodak Moments' you are surprised. Thanks for posting the photos, I would like to see a police officer of the period wearing such a pistol but that would probably have been such a rare event that no such photos exists. Regards Brian

Hi Rick and Mervyn, Darn! I'm agreeing with both of your points. It seems like a lot of work to return one medal in exchange for the "updated" version. On the other hand it would be one way to assure that there was a degree of uniformity. It would be great it this were indeed to a fellow who had not recieved his 1887 medal but I find the I am seldom one to end up with anything that rare. I guess until I find documents or orders written for the return of the 1887 medal for upgrades I'll just have to be content to wait - and keep searching. Regards Brian

Thanks Peter and Michael. I too felt they were too short and of the wrong shape to have been used in any official battle capacity. The search indeed goes on. Regards and thanks again for your assistance. Brian