ostprussenmann_new

Hello, I am trying to to help identify an individual from 3D SAI, 1st South African Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division Was a Sergeant, wounded once, Was a Signal and musketry instructor. Awards: Ribbon bar - Military Medal, Queens South Africa Medal, Natal Native Rebellion Medal, WWI 1914-1915 Medal I think it may be, but not for sure. Possible - Second Boer War Geoffrey Watkin Williams In Kimberly Volunteer Regiment I can’t find a name on any roster for the Natal Medal. Wwi - Geoffrey Watkin WILLIAMS 3rd SAI, C Coy for Recommended for the DCM for his conduct at Delville Wood, awarded Military Medal. On the 20th July, he commanded a strong point in Princes Street and showed a great determination and coolness in handling his men under fire. Any help would be appreciated. thanks

I have another grouping where a Captain who was awarded a medal was 50 years old when awarded the medal and there is documentation to support the statement. I think age might be a smaller thing. Compared to the US forces; I have seen brits having weird ages for ranks in some capacities. Right now at my job there is a 51 year old RN Commander serving in a LNO job. He was just promoted last year and has been in for 35 years.

I appreciate everyone’s responses. Then what is that number? I looked over the tunic more and brought it to a recent show and there was no belief that anything was fake. I also asked about the holes in the collar next to the exploding bomb and it was explained he could have been in another unit before going to royal artillery. The ribbons bars have been there a while because I cut stitching on the middle of the ribbon bar and there is discoloration. the two options given to me this past weekend 1) was that it was put together in the 60s-80 or 2) it is perfectly legit. Too bad there is no name in it. No one could explain the number but it was put in a place in the inner pocket just as the Germans put there’s and could be an identification number. i am lost. I guess I need to try to look at some rolls of post 1945 or retired officers with that medal rack and try to tie a few options as previously mentioned. i have another nice grouping for an MBE winner who went from private to Captain. Started in the royal artillery and won a M.M. As a private in WWI and in 1946 was give an MBE. at this point what a shame because it is a really nice uniform.

This tag was found in the tunic: assuming service number

Weasel thanks for your response. the first ribbon is the military cross and the second is the General Service medal with palm for being mentioned in dispatches. Is there anyway to put a name to identify who wore this ribbon bar?

WW2 MEDAL RIBBON BAR. MILITARY CROSS , G.S.M WITH M.I.D & WW2 MEDALS . It is supposedly from a Royal Engineers Grouping Any additional information would help if Ribbon Bar is identified. It is part of my 11yr olds Son’s Bday present and I don’t know much about UK Militaria thanks in advance

Royal Artillery (WWI and WWII) Vet I am looking to see if someone can put a name to this ribbon bar... Royal Artillery Colonel from WWII who was Great War Veteran 1) Military Cross w/ Rosette (2x) 2) 1914 Mons Star w/ Rosette (not 1914-1915 Mons Star) 3) British War Medal (WWI) 4) WWI Victory Medal 5) 1945 Defense Medal 6) War Medal 1939-1945 7) Efficiency Medal Thanks for any help. Any additional information would be welcomed.

As previously stated, neither the Afghan Medal nor the Iraq medal will not be awarded to US Soldiers. Grandpa Jo got one, some very senior leaders, and some troops present did within the US (like 15 total). Iraq is in such turmoil as is Afghanistan, and of it is ever authorized those who served will get it when we are old and crusty.

Congrats. That is wonderful.

Bayern, I looked up the award and it definitely looks to be correct. I think 922f is defining right. So I wonder if there is A role out there with Italian roles. I tried looking for a rank list and could not find it. Do you know of a website out there that may have list of Italian WWii Generals out there? thanks

Bayern, thanks for the information. Do you think that the guy is researchable like I suspect?

I saw this interesting Ribbon bar. I know that the officer is a WW2 Italian Air Force Engineer Officer. I was able to identify the all of the ribbons: ROW 1: Medal for Military Valor (Silver Star), Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus (3d Class Commander), Order of the Crown of Italy (Commander) ROW 2: Silver Officer's Service Cross (16 years), Order of Saint Joseph(Commander) ,Cross for Military Valor ROW 3: The Cross for War Merit, Commemorative Medal for Military Operations in East Africa (Ethiopia)[1935/36], 1940-43 Campaign Medal (3 stars = 3 years) What I find interesting is that an Army Long Service Medal and a very rare Order of St. Joseph (Commander), which means he was knighted from Tuscany. Can anyone help? If this is in the wrong section, I apologize.

If anyone has access to NARA files or anything on him it would be appreciated. The only that I know is that he earned a DKiG at a different rank from someone at another forum who has a tunic of his. I have a EKII document of his. I didn’t think much of it until he brought up since I have had the document for some years now. I didn’t even know he was a DKiG winner. thanks in advance.

Yup great catch. That definitely will work also.

I would leave them as is, however, in order to neutralize further metal corrosion I would take Vaseline and rub a light coat over the metal. This will stop the metal from getting worse.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate this. I am definitely going to request the records. Great research. I definitely do not think either of those two were him.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate this. I am definitely going to request the records.

I really appreciate your knowledge on all of this again. Do you think that it would be worth writing Italy to get his records? I do know definitely he is from San Germano. I think we could narrow it down if the 7th Regiment was from around that Region of the 7th Reg. It would be cool if this was him if I could get a copy of the Citation and photo in Uniform the buy the medal and make a nice display.

Well I think this makes more sense than anything. The lady that I am speaking too, my Cousin is 87, so I think this is a difference between family hearsay and actual documentation. I just got an email from her after I posted and she stated he came into the US from Canada through Detroit not Ellis’s Island. I am going by everything she has stated to me and not by looking at actual documents, which she has copies of on top of my Grandma and father who have told me bits and pieces. It would make sense. Maybe he came to US in 1912 or 1913. If I get copies of act documentation. This is definitely getting more interesting and I don’t think there were many Eduardo Barberis’. I may be wrong. Any idea of where the 7th Infanterie was mustered out of? Thanks so much for finding this information. This seems like the same thing I went through with another family member on Mother’s side a couple of years ago. All of the family stories were nothing like what I found out from hard facts through documentation. This seems to be the case here. If you find out anything else please let me know!like rank or such. I definitely owe you one here.

I have been looking through the gazette and cannot find anything.. I may need your help. I am just trying to search them from 1879-1910 for his name.

So I just called my great aunt again last night and brought up the weirdness of being 1879 and WWII. Come to find out after looking through her family records, he served prior to WWI and immigrated to the US in 1912 as things heated up in Europe and was in the US during WWI and actually was interned when they hit Ellis Island for a month or so. I suppose things make a little more sense now.

Bayern, Thank you again. These are all family stories, so maybe this will shed some light to the family mystery.

I appreciate the help. If I do find out anything I will be sure to post for everyone’s knowledge. also the other posting about the Italian WWII Officer; I provided some more details. Thanks again

Either 08 or 09 Aug 1879 for birthdate. Most likely birthplace was San Germano, Vercelli, Piemonte, Italy (This was the best guess)

I looked there before posting. Also wrote the Photo Heritage Museum in Virginia, Smithsonian, and SAC Museum. Thanks though.