bigjarofwasps

The Desert Storm POW/MIA is Michael Scott Speicher. He was a Lieutenant Commander when he was shot down, but has subsequently been promoted to Captain. He was a naval aviator with Strike Fighter Squadron Eight One (VFA-81), flying off the USS Saratoga. He is still listed as a POW, although what happened to him remains unknown.

During the major ground operations phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom, eight American soldiers were taken prisoner by Iraqi forces - six from the ambushed convoy of the 507th Maintenance Company and two from a crashed AH-64 Apache. One of the eight, Pfc. Jessica Lynch, was rescued by special operations forces on April 2, 2003. The other seven were rescued by U.S. Marines on April 13, 2003, who were tipped by Iraqi civilians to their whereabouts after their captors abandoned them as U.S. forces approached Tikrit.

The current OIF MIA was captured during the insurgency phase, on April 9, 2004. He was PFC Keith M. Maupin (subsequently promoted to sergeant), of the 724th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve. http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/17/missing.s...oted/index.html

Horrendous!!!!!!!!!!!

The unit only deployed in August 2005, arriving in Iraq in early September, so it is a bit early for most awards, which take time to process. They have had two soldiers killed in action and at least one wounded in action.

By the way, it is not "2nd Battalion of the 127th National Guard"; it is 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry, Wisconsin Army National Guard, or 2-172 IN in the Army's shorthand. It is an element of the 32nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light), descendant of the 32nd Infantry Division. Here is a link with better images and a description of the 127th Infantry's distinctive unit insignia: http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Inf/127I...tryRegiment.htm

Many thanks for that Dave, I think I`m right in saying that there out there for 12 months is that correct? Also I`m aware of Sgt Wallace & Spec Wendling ( http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=425&st=20 ), and Spec R######f, getting wounded, by shrapnel during the same incident, there was also a battle shock casualty. But I was also under the impression that they`d also lost a female soldier, a few days later, a bit further south, which resulted in a few more of their guys being wounded, is this information correct? Thanks also for the link to their site.

Can anyone tell me whether the 2nd Battalion of the 127th National Guard, have been awarded any medals for their tour of Iraq on Op Iraq Freedom?

Captain Richard Holmes and Private Lee Ellis, both from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment and attached to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, were killed by a roadside bomb on the outskirts of Amara, in southern Iraq, on 28 February.

Cheers Guys, keep it coming!!!!!!!

Very interesting topic, thanks for sharing it with us!!!!!!

I`m shocked, to learn that theres still guys unaccounted for. I feel for their loved ones!!!!!

Have any Medals of Honour been awarded for Op Iraqi Freedom?

Another interesting group, again an obvious made up one, but it looks impressive none the less!!!

Cheers Guys, I thought as much. There not attributed to anyone that I`ve been able to confirm. Just out of interest how many POW`s did the Iraqi`s capture, and are they still being held?

Putting all that aside, they do make a nice group though don`t they.

What do you guys make of this?

An interesting group, not sure how authentic it is?

Trooper Carl Smith, 23, from the 9th/12th Lancers, died after a crash on the outskirts of Basra in southern Iraq on 2 February. He had only been on duty in Iraq for 11 days.

Iraq attack kills two UK soldiers

Footage from Amara

Two British soldiers have been killed and another injured by a roadside bomb in Amara, southern Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The three were attached to a battlegroup mainly made up of members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Tony Blair's official spokesman said the prime minister was "sadly aware" of the deaths, which take the number of UK troops killed in Iraq to 103.

Iraqis threw stones as troops arrived at the scene after the blast.

Several blasts

The bombing happened as at least 50 people were killed and many more injured by at least four blasts in Baghdad - just a day after a curfew imposed following earlier violence was lifted.

A suicide attacker blew himself up after joining a queue of people trying to buy kerosene in the New Baghdad district in the east of the city.

The other blasts were thought to include a mortar attack on the National Theatre in Baghdad.

Video footage of the aftermath of the Amara blast showed British soldiers at the scene and locals throwing stones.

British troops were filmed at the scene

It also shows two Army Land Rovers, one of which was badly damaged.

The BBC's Jane Corbin she was filming in Amara when the attack happened and said the atmopshere was difficult to judge.

"I did walk along one of the main streets of Al-Amara and the situation was very hard to read, I must say. Some stones were thrown, a few people acknowledged me, but many were actively hostile."

She said the tensions in the area had ebbed and flowed over recent months.

About 8,900 UK personnel are stationed in Iraq, mainly in the south-east of the country.

"Next of kin are being informed and we cannot give further details until this process is complete and the incident has been thoroughly investigated," said Mr Blair's spokesman.

The last UK soldier to die in Iraq before Tuesday was Trooper Carl Joseph Smith, 23, from the 9th/12th Lancers, who died after a crash on the outskirts of Basra on 2 February.

A Superb British Double Gallantry Military Cross & Bar Group to Capt Willaim Henry Blackburn Royal Engineers. Twice decorated with the Miliatry Cross for his Gallantry in World War 1.

Group Consists of Military Cross (GV) & 2nd Bar, Reverse Engraved: Capt William Henry Blackburn R.E. 1918, 1914-15 Star Impressed LIEUT W.H. BLACKBURN R.E. British War Medal & Victory Medal Both Impressed: CAPT W.H. BLACKBURN R.E. & General Service Medal with Clasp IRAQ Impressed: CAPT W.H. BLACKBURN R.E.

MC is privately Engraved, all other are Offically Impressed as Issued. The group is GVF / NEF condition Capt Blackburn serving in France from 11th November 1915 & later serving in Iraq between Dec 1919 & December 1920. All medals are confirmed on his MIC a copy will be included with Sale. Interstingly his Bar to his MC was Gazetted before his Origianl MC, this is not that unusual due to the back log in the Gazette in the last part of the War.

His MC was Gazetted on 26th July 1918 page 8777: " T/Capt William Henry Blackburn, RE For Conspicuoues Gallantry and Devotion to Duty when in command of his company, he for eighty hours continuously directed the operations in a rearguard action, inflicting losses and checking the Enemys advance"

Bar to MC Gazetted: 3rd June 1918, no citation listed but details may be found in reserach of War Diary of Royal Engineers.

An outstanding Boer War ‘Sharpshooter’ Imperial Yeomanry Regimental Sergeant Majors Distinguished Conduct Medal, and Mention in Desptaches group of 6, a veteran of the 16th Lancers, who served with the Heavy Cavalry Regiment, as part of the Camel Corps in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85, and would also see service in WW1 as a Captain with the Royal Irish Regiment in France, being sent home after a shell explosion which incapacitated him. Distinguished Conduct Medal, EVII bust; (21699 S.MAJ: W.C. LOW. 16TH LANCERS: 21ST BN: I.Y.); Egypt Medal, undated reverse, 1 Clasp: The Nile 1884-85; (1818 PTE W. LOW. 16-LRS.); Queen’s South Africa Medal, 4 Clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901; (21699 S. SERJT:MAJ: W.C. LOW. 81ST COY I.Y.); British War & Victory Medals, both named; (CAPT. W.C. LOW.); Khedives Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued. The Egypt Medal has later naming. And this is confirmed in the medal roll, which states that he was issued another on 20th November 1924, presumably due to the condition of the original which, would have become knocked about through continuous service. Walter Charles Low was born in early 1861, at Bethnal Green, he was the son of George S. Low, of Alvin Villa, Leytonstone. A clerk prior to enlistment, Walter enlisted as a Private, No. 1818, into the 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers on 2nd April 1879. His start to his career was chequered, and he was imprisoned from 22nd September to 25th October 1881. He served at home throughout with the 16th Lancers, except for his service in Egypt, from 24th September 1884 to 16th July 1885 when he took part in the Nile Expedition in Egypt and the Sudan as a member of the Heavy Cavalry Regiment, part of the Camel Corps, which formed in August 1884, and consisted of 10 detachments from cavalry regiments, each detachment supposedly consisting of two officers, two sergeants, a trumpeter, a bugler, and thirty-eight men. Only 46 men from the 16th Lancers served in the Nile Expedition, and Low was one of only six who missed the action at Abu Klea, thus receiving a regimentally rare single clasp medal, in addition to the Khedive’s Star. He returned to Britain, and married Emma Reef in Dublin on 24th January 1886, before transferring to the 1st Class Army Reserve on 1st August 1886, being full discharged on 1st April 1891. In civilian life he became a Riding Instructor, living at 55 Union Street, Maidstone, Kent. With the war in South Africa, he enlisted again, for service with the Imperial Yeomanry (No.21699) on 28th January 1901, stating that he was 35 years old, but he was in fact 40. He was promoted Squadron Sergeant Major on 13th April 1901, he had arrived in South Africa on 14th March 1901, where he served with the 81st Company (Sharpshooters), 21st Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, and during the course of the war would be twice decorated, firstly with a Mention in Despatches, the recommendation by his commanding officer stating: “Served with the Camel Corps in 1885, 16th Lancers. 15 months with this regiment. A very good NCO knowing his duties thoroughly. Has acted as Regimental Sergeant Major from Feby 1902 to my complete satisfaction. Mention in Despatches.” The M.I.D. appeared in the London Gazette for 29th July 1902, and gave his details as “Squadron Serjeant-Major W. Low (16th Lancers) 21st Battalion I.Y.” Since Low was serving with a Yeomanry number, it is not clear how the 16th Lancers, his old unit, appears, but this would also occur with the notification of his Distinguished Conduct Medal in the London Gazette for 31st October 1902, to bear date from 22nd August 1902, as well as in the Army Order 10/1903, and will explain why his medal is named as such. His award was one of only two to his unit, and one of only 120 to the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa. A fine Regimental Sergent Major’s award. His Q.S.A. would be correctly named to him with the 21st I.Y., but would only bear 4 clasps, he being additionally entitled to the S.A. 1902 clasp, which he never wore, and his medal is additionally only confirmed as a 4 clasp medal in the Army List for 1919. Low was officially promoted R.S.M. on 18th June 1902, and left South Africa on 10th August 1902. He settled in Ireland, and by 1918/19 his address is shown as Cosy Hotel, 34 Gamble Street, Belfast. With the outbreak of WW1 he volunteered his services again, and was commissioned as Temporary Lieutenant in the General List. He assumed duty on 8th February 1916 “at a vulnerable point on the South East Coast of Ireland”, and on 6th May 1916 he was posted to the 2nd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment which guarded various points near Dublin. The Battalion was sent to France on 15th May 1918, and the regimental history confirms that “Captain W.C. Low DCM” was among the officers who embarked. His third war did not last long, and in June 1918 “he was knocked over by a shell explosion, after which he felt peculiar but carried on for 6 days when he suddenly began to pass water and could not stop. His right side had become paralysed and he was very tremulous”. He left his unit on 12th June 1918, and returned to Dover on the 24th June. His health did not recover, and following a medical board in Belfast on 18th April 1919, Temporary Captain Walter Low was discharged unfit for any further service, with the right to retain the rank of Captain. By now aged 58, he is service had fully ended after a military career spread over 40 years! A truly outstanding record of service.

I have a copy of the IY LSM roll, so I'll look Lawton up - though it'll only varify the medal's award date in AOs. I understand the muster rolls are at the PRO, and there's bound to be stuff in local archives, so..? I only have one of these scarce medals - to a chap in the South Notts Hussars. I looked for ages to find one of these, then a bunch cropped up.

Its it always the case, I`ve got the same thing with the Cheshire Yeomanry, but I`m gradually working my way threw them. I just picked up another the other day. i`ve got my eye one two Yeo LSGC`s but there both pricey. I`d want to spend a fortune only to find theres no research avenues to follow. I`ve seen a copy of the book you refer to, and I`ve put a bid on, as I`ve got a few QSA medals to men with prior service in the CY, and am curious as to whether there entitled to the LSGC?

Just out of interest, other than QSA,WW1 & WW2 does anyone own or seen a medal to a different campaign, but named to a soldier from the Yeomanry. I`m sure that theres Iraq Medals out there to the Yo, but does anyone know of any others?

25896 Trp Harry Kilby 21st Coy Cheshire Yeomanry

Born In Twickenham Middlesex.

Enlisted aged 21, at the Pall Mall Deposit Carlton Street London on the 24th Jan 1901 Height 5` 81/2” Weight 153 LBS Attested 1st Feb 1901, Carlton Street. Next of kin Father address unreadable, but was somewhere in Twickenham

Discharged 9th Nov 1901, at Gosport Elandsfortein, as being no longer fit for service. Character given as very good. Finally discharged from the Colours 15th May 1902.

Service 1st Feb 1901 9th March 1901 Home

South Africa 10th March 1901 to 17th Oct 1901

Home 18th Oct 1901 to 9th November 1901

Complexion Dark Eyes Dark Hair Brown

Previous Occupation Fitter

Previous military service in the 2nd Middlesex Rifle Volunteers.

Entitled to the QSA Medal clasp CC,OFS,1901.

“During the course of operations in South Africa the column was joined at Smalldeel on the 11th of April by some new `Yeoman`. So far as the Cheshire Companies were concerned their allotment was 48 men nearly all of whom had been recruited from the heart of London. Their experience of riding was mainly confined to donkeys at some seaside resort and during the first days history relates that there was seldom more than three quarters of them in the saddle at the same time.”

Another group, currently on ebay

India General Service Medal 1895 bar Relief of Chitral 1895 named

3007 Cpl H Whiting, 19th Hussars

Queen's South Africa Medal Ghost dates reverse 4 bars

Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing's Nek, Belfast named

3007 Sergt H W Whiting, 19th Hrs

King's South Africa Medal 2 bars South Africa 1901 & 1902 named

3007 S Qr Mr Serjt H W Whiting, 19th Hussars

Long Service & Good Conduct Medal Army Edward VII named

3007 SS Mjr H W Whiting, 19/Hrs

With a photo of the recipient wearing his medals in the uniform of the Corps of Commissionaires. Copy service papers medal roll entries etc. Henry Walter Whiting was born at Hooe, Brighton, Sussex he attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment at Reading 8 September 1886 aged 18yrs 2mths he was a serving member of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment occupation Horse Keeper. He had previously tried to join the Army but had been turned down under minimum chest measurement.

Whiting transferred to the 19th Hussars 7 September 1887 and received rapid promotion by June 1893 he was a Sergeant and by April 1904 Squadron Sergeant Major. He served in the relief of Chitral expedition 1895 attached to the Commissariat & Transport Department and was one of 6 men of this Regiment to receive the IGS medal bar Relief of Chitral 1895.

He served in the Boer War including the Defence of Ladysmith and was Mentioned in Deapatches by Lord Kitchener 'For gallantry on 16 August 1901 at Salgboom, he assisted in getting away the Colt Gun under heavy Boer fire'.

Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in 1907 he was attached Permanent Staff Hertfordshire Yeomanry from 30 March 1903 had qualified in transport duties in 1893, instructor school of musketry in 1897. Discharged from the Army on 12 May 1909 having completed 22yrs 249 days service.

A number of medals awarded to Inspector William James Newell of the City of London Police who was also commended for his actions in respect of the Sidney Street Siege. They come with a copy of his Police records and the original centrepiece of the Daily Mirror newspaper dated 5th January, 1911 dealing with the siege. His medals are as follows:- Jubilee 1897, City of London Police issue, bronze (PC 724), Coronation 1902, City of London Police issue, bronze (PC), Coronation 1911, City of London Police issue (Insp), mounted as worn. Royal Life Saving award (Boxed). Silver St John's Ambulance Brigade Long Service Cross Number 30014. 8 City of London Polce medals in respect of Life Saving and Water Polo dated between 1897 and 1920 and 1 Middlesex County medal. Newell was commended 11 times but the most important was the one which concerned the Murder of 3 City of London Police Officers in Houndsditch and ended with the Sidney Street siege involving the then Home secretary Winston Churchill. Newell's commendation was awarded on 26/6/1911 and is as follows:- "Commended by the Commissiooner and awarded ?10 by the Courts of Alderman for exemplary zeal and intelligence in the investigation in the case of the murder of three Police Officers in Exchange Buildings on the 16th ,December, 1910". This is in his enclosed Police records

Ebay. 7742056815

At last he`seen the light, there know for sale bids starting at ?39.99.

Cheers Marcus.

Sorry, when I blow the picture up, it looses all its detail.

Phil Burman has 2 YLGC medals on his list.....

559. Imperial Yeomanry Long Service. Edw. V11. Trumpeter T. Lawton. Cheshire I.Y. Awarded Feb. 1905. Listed

in the 1897 Muster Roll of the Congleton Troop. (NEF) ?450

560. Imperial Yeomanry Long Service. Edw. V11. Cpl. J. Shufflebotham. Cheshire I.Y. Awarded Feb. 1905.

Heavily polished. (Fine) ?295

I`d very much like them, but my purse won`t stretch that far, just out of interest how much research protentional is there for these medals? I have a nominal roll for 1897, which has Trum Lawton on it, but do they have service papers?

I`ll give it a bash (enlarging picture).

Not ex-QOMY, ex-RAMC currently in the process of enlisting in the RMLY.

Cheers Guys,

Didn`t the QRL take part in the Iraq war too? Do they still have this cap badge, which I think must be one of the coolest ones I`ve ever seen.

BJOW

Can anyone tell me which Regiment has this cap badge? Is it still in existance?