bigjarofwasps

I have since bee relaibley informed that due to lack of space, and no way to copy them onto a computer- in the 90`s North Wales Police destroyed all the serve papers for all retired & no longer serving Officers.

The deployment of guard units to Iraq, on a scale never seen even in the Vietnam war, has driven the cost of the war deep into middle America. In 2005, guard forces were at one point more than half the combat forces in Iraq (a percentage never reached in the far greater guard mobilisations of both world wars). And while National Guard and reserve deaths were a quarter of all US fatalities since the war began, this year they increased: for August and September 2005 they were 56%. http://www.opendemocracy.net/xml/xhtml/articles/2954.html

WASHINGTON — In a reversal of trends from past wars, part-time soldiers in the Army National Guard are about one-third more likely to be killed in Iraq than full-time active-duty soldiers serving there, a USA TODAY analysis of Pentagon statistics shows. According to figures furnished by the military branches, the active Army has sent about 250,000 soldiers to Iraq, and 622 have been killed. That works out to one death for every 402 soldiers who have deployed. About 37,000 Army Guard soldiers have been sent to Iraq since the war began and 140 have died there — one fatality for every 264 soldiers who have served, or about a 35% higher death rate. There are several reasons for the greater death rates among so-called part-time soldiers, who generally drill one weekend a month and two weeks during the summer when there's no war. The Pentagon has called up thousands of part-time troops for tours of a year or more in Iraq. Some of the most dangerous missions, including driving convoys and guarding bases and other facilities, frequently are assigned to Guard and reserve troops. Iraqi insurgents have attacked convoys with roadside bombs and rocket-propelled grenades, and a Tennessee Guardsman publicly complained to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last week about the lack of armor on some vehicles. Active-duty casualties have spiked during major battles such as the attack on Fallujah, largely carried out by Army and Marine troops. But such engagements have rarely been waged since President Bush declared major combat over in May 2003. Other branches with troops in harm's way in Iraq — the Army Reserve, the Marine Corps, the Air Force and the Navy — did not supply total numbers of their troops deployed to Iraq since the war began in March 2003, which would have made similar comparisons possible. But fatality numbers show the vast majority of U.S. deaths in Iraq come from the active-duty Army, active-duty Marines, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. The Marines have lost 350 troops, while the Army Reserve has suffered 59 deaths. The Air Force and Navy together have suffered 27 deaths. PART-TIME TROOP DEATHS Conflict Vietnam Total deaths 58,209 Army National Guard 94 Army Reserve 0 Desert Storm Total Deaths 382 National Guard 0 Army Reserve 34 Iraqi Freedom Total Deaths 1,286 National Guard 140 Army Reserve 59 Source: Defense Department Those casualties don't represent all 1,286 Iraq deaths because they exclude several categories, including Marine Corps Reserve. The elevated death rates among part-time soldiers are a significant shift from the past. During most wars in the last century, the full-time military took most of the casualties, and their troops were much more likely to die in battle than Guardsmen and reservists. In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, for example, the Army Guard suffered no fatalities out of 382 U.S. deaths. A total of 94 Army National Guardsmen and no reservists were killed out of 58,209 U.S. deaths in Vietnam. "It's a changed paradigm," says Richard Stark, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "We have completely crossed the line in terms of what it is to be a citizen-soldier." It's unclear what effect the elevated death rate will have on the part-time military's ability to recruit and keep soldiers. Although the Guard has met its goals for retaining soldiers since the war began, it missed its recruiting goal of 56,000 soldiers last year by about 7,000 and has fallen behind this year.

Private Luke Simpson, from the 1st Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in a roadside bomb attack on 9 February about five miles outside of Basra. The 21-year-old from Howden, East Yorks, was returning to his base from a routine patrol when the device detonated close to the vehicle he was driving. His commanding officer, Lt Col Andrew Jackson, said Private Simpson stood out as a young soldier with the highest personal and professional credentials. "He had the potential to go far and his dedication to duty, personal pride in soldiering and selfless commitment to his comrades is an inspiration to us all," he said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6350591.stm

Soldier dies in roadside bombing The soldiers were on patrol five miles from Basra A British soldier has been killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol five miles south east of Basra in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The dead soldier was from 1 Yorkshire Regiment. The explosion on Friday also injured three other soldiers. The MoD said one of the injured men was in a critical condition. All three have been airlifted by helicopter to the hospital at Basra and none of the soldiers' identities has been released. An MoD spokesman said the dead soldier's name would not be released until his family had been informed. The men were all travelling in a "Snatch" Landrover, which are lightly armoured vehicles. This latest death brings the total number of UK troops killed as a result of hostile action to 101. It is also the second British military death this week. On Monday, Second Lieutenant Jonathan Carlos Bracho-Cooke was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol. His fiancee Laura Bottomley described him as "caring, loyal and incredibly funny" at a press conference held by his family in Hove on Friday. The couple had been due to get married on 9 August.

Second Lt Jonathan Carlos Bracho-Cooke from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment was killed in the southern part of Basra on 5 February. The patrol in which he was travelling was hit by a roadside bomb which also wounded a number of Iraqi civilians near the US consulate in the city. Second Lieutenant Bracho-Cooke, 24, from Hove, East Sussex, was described by his commanding officer as "bright, enthusiastic and charismatic". The "promising" young officer was due to marry his fiancee Laura in a wedding planned for August, a eulogy released by the Ministry of Defence said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6336375.stm

I have two WW2 Bronze Stars, in my collection, both issued to US soldiers, one I think the the Ardennes and the other for the Far East, I have been unable to find out any other info on them whatsoever, so if you do find a way please let me know!!!

I`m no expert, but it looks like a modern issue to me. Check out this website... http://www.purplehearts.net/id8.html

Hi Guys, Can anyone answer these questions for me? 1. The Armed Forces Service Medal, what kind of thing is this awarded for? 2. Has the Iraq Medal had an devices authorised for it yet? 3. The NATO medal are they still awarded without bars for US personnel? 4. Can you get the Iraq Medal & the War on Global Terror for the same tour od duty? 5. Did US personal qualify for the US issue & NATO issue Kosovo Medals, for the same tour of duty? Cheers, BJOW.

This is the full transcript of the cockpit video from call sign POPOV36 during the disastrous friendly fire attack on the Household Cavalry patrol. Lasting just over 15 minutes, it begins just before the A-10 Thunderbolt pilot spots the four British vehicles. The local time is 4.36pm, or 1.36pm Greenwich Mean Time which is what the military use. The killer pilot’s wingman, hunting targets with him in a second A-10, had the call sign POPOV35. The other main call signs on the radio net are MANILA HOTEL, MANILA34, and LIGHTNING34 — three US Marine Corps Forward Air Controllers on the ground attached to British units. Later on, other call signs come on the net to relay emergency ceasefire messages. They are SKY CHIEF, an American AWAC jet controlling the overall air battle and COSTA58, a British pilot nearby. The time code in hours, minutes and seconds is from the digital clock on the pilot’s display. Transcript starts: 1336.30 MANILA HOTEL: POPOV from MANILA HOTEL. Can you confirm you engaged that tube and those vehicles? 1336.36 POPOV35: Affirm Sir. Looks like I’ve got multiple vehicles in reverts at about 800 metres to the north of your arty rounds. Can you switch fire, and shift fire, and get some arty rounds on those? 1336.47 MANILA HOTEL: Roger, I understand that those are the impacts you observed earlier on my timing? 1336.51 POPOV35: Affirmative. 1336.52 MANILA HOTEL: Roger, standby. Let me make sure they’re not on another mission. 1336.57 POPOV36: Hey, I got a four ship. Looks like we got orange panels on them though. Do we have any friendlies up in this area? 1337.03 MANILA HOTEL: I understand that was north 800 metres. 1337.12 MANILA HOTEL: POPOV, understand that was north 800 metres? 1337.16 POPOV35: Confirm, north 800 metres. Confirm there are no friendlies this far north on the ground. 1337.21 MANILA HOTEL: That is an affirm. You are well clear of friendlies. 1337.25 POPOV35: Copy. I see multiple riveted vehicles. Some look like flatbed trucks and others are green vehicles. Can’t quite make out the type. Look like may be ZIL157s (Russian made trucks used by Iraqi army). 1337.36 MANILA HOTEL: Roger. That matches our Intel up there. And understand you also have the other fixed wing up this push? For terminal control, if you can. 1337.44 POPOV35: I’d love to. I didn’t talk to him yet. 1337.46 MANILA HOTEL: Roger, I believe CASPER is up this push too. Two Super Tomcats. 1337.54 POPOV35: Hey dude. 1337.56 POPOV36: I got a four ship of vehicles that are evenly spaced along a road going north. 1338.04 POPOV36: Look down at your right, 2 o’clock, at 10 o’clock low, there is a, left 10 o’clock low, look down there north along that canal, right there. Coming up just south of the village. 1338.21 POPOV35: Evenly spaced? Where we strafed? 1338.23 POPOV36: No. No. Further east, further west, right now. And there’s four or five of them right now heading up there. 1338.29 POPOV35: No, I don’t have you visual. 1338.30 POPOV36: I’m back at your 6 – no factor. 1338.31 POPOV35: OK, now where’s this canal? 1338.35 POPOV35: Don’t hit those F18s that are out there. 1338.38 POPOV36: OK. Right underneath you. Right now, there’s a canal that runs north/south. There’s a small village, and there are vehicles that are spaced evenly there. 1338.49 POPOV36: They look like they have orange panels on though. 1338.51 POPOV35: He told me, he told me there’s nobody north of here. 1338.52 POPOV36: I know. There, right on the river. 1338.53 POPOV35: I see vehicles though, might be our original dudes. 1339.09 POPOV36: They’ve got something orange on top of them. 1339.10 POPOV35: POPOV for MANILA 3, is MANILA 34 in this area? 1339.14 MANILA HOTEL: Say again? 1339.15 POPOV35: MANILA HOTEL, is MANILA 34 in this area? 1339.19 MANILA HOTEL: Negative. Understand they are well clear of that now. 1339.23 POPOV35: OK, copy. Like I said, multiple riveted vehicles. They look like flatbed trucks. Are those your targets? 1339.30 MANILA HOTEL: That’s affirm. 1339.31 POPOV35: OK. 1339.34 POPOV36: Let me ask you one question. 1339.35 POPOV35: What’s that? 1339.45 POPO36: (to MANILA HOTEL) Hey, tell me what type of rocket launchers you got up here? 1339.50 POPOV36: I think they’re rocket launchers. 1339.52 MANILA HOTEL: . . . (garbled) You were stepped on, say again. 1339.54 POPOV35: MANILA HOTEL, fire your arty (artillery) up that 800 metres north, and see how we do. 1340.01 MANILA HOTEL: Roger, standby for shot. They are getting adjustments to the guns now. 1340.34 POPOV35: Copy. 1340.09 POPOV36: Roll up your right wing and look right underneath you. 1340.12 POPOV35: (angry) I know what you’re talking about. 1340.13 POPOV36: OK, well they got orange rockets on them. 1340.17 POPOV35: Orange rockets? 1340.17 POPOV36: Yeah, I think so. 1340.18 POPOV35: Let me look. 1340.26 POPOV35: We need to think about getting home. 1340.29 POPOV36: 3.6 is what it says (a fuel measurement). 1340.31 POPOV35: Yeah, I know. I’m talking time wise. 1340.35 POPOV36: I think killing these damn rocket launchers, it would be great. (The tape then becomes garbled) 1340.52 MANILA HOTEL: Yeah, POPOV36, MANILA HOTEL. I’ve got other aircraft up this push. Not sure they’re coming to me. Someone else might be working this freak. 1341.00 POPOV35: Yeah, MANILA34 is working them, break, break. 1340.12 POPOV36: Yeah, I see that, you see I’m going to roll down. 1340.15 MANILA 34: Break, be advised MANILA34 is not working the F18s unless they are trying to check in with me, over. 1341.21 POPOV35: Copy. 1341.24 POPOV36: OK, do you see the orange things on top of them? 1341.32 MANILA HOTEL: POPOV 36 from MANILA HOTEL. Are you able to switch to Crimson? 1341.37 POPOV36: POPOV 36 is rolling in. 1341.40 MANILA HOTEL: Tell you what. 1341.41 POPOV35: I’m coming off west. You roll in. It looks like they are exactly what we’re talking about. 1341.49 POPOV36: We got visual. 1341.50 POPOV36: OK. I want to get that first one before he gets into town then. 1341.53 POPOV35: Get him – get him. 1341.55 POPOV36: All right, we got rocket launchers, it looks like. Number 2 is rolling in from the south to the north, and 2’s in. 1342.04 POPOV35: Get it. POPOV36, “rolls in” for an attack and turns his A-10 into a vertical dive to strafe the British column, destroying two Scimitar armoured vehicles and killing L/Cpl of Horse Matty Hull. 1342.09 - GUNFIRE - 1342.18 POPOV35: I’m off your west. 1342.22 POPOV35: Good hits. 1342.29 POPOV36: Got a visual. 1342.30 POPOV35: I got a visual. You’re at your high 10. 1342.31 POPOV36: Gotcha. 1342.30 POPOV36: That’s what you think they are, right? 1342.39 POPOV35: It looks like it to me, and I got my goggles on them now. 1342.59 POPOV35: OK, I’m looking at getting down low at this. 1343.13 MANILA HOTEL: POPOV 36 from MANILA HOTEL, guns . . . 1343.17 MANILA HOTEL: To engage those targets in the revetts (slopes). 1343.24 POPOV36: It looks like he is hauling ass. Ha ha. Is that what you think they are? 1343.34 POPOV36: 1–2 1343.35 POPOV35: It doesn’t look friendly. 1343.38 POPOV36: OK, I’m in again from the south. 1343.40 POPOV35: Ok. 1343.47 - GUNFIRE - 1343.54 LIGHTNING 34: POPOV 34, LIGHTNING 34. 1344.09 POPOV35: POPOV 35, LIGHTNING 34 GO. 1344.12 LIGHTNING 34: Roger, POPOV. Be advised that in the 3122 and 3222 group box you have friendly armour in the area. Yellow, small armoured tanks. Just be advised. 1344.16 POPOV35: Ahh s***. 1344.19 P0POV35: Got a — got a smoke. 1344.21 LIGHTNING 34: Hey, POPOV34, abort your mission. You got a, looks we might have a blue on blue situation. 1344.25 POPOV35: F***. God bless it. 1344.29 POPOV35: POPOV 34. 1344.35 POPOV35: F***, f***, f***. 1344.36 MANILA 34: POPOV34, this is MANILA 34. Did you copy my last, over? 1344.39 POPOV35: I did. 1344.47 POPOV35: Confirm those are friendlies on that side of the canal. 1344.51 POPOV35: S***. 1344.58 MANILA 34: Standby POPOV. 1345.04 POPOV36: God dammit. 1344.14 MANILA HOTEL: Hey POPOV 36, from MANILA HOTEL. 1344.25 MANILA 34: OK POPOV. Just west of the 3-4 easting. On the berm up there, the 3422 area is where we have our friendlies, over. 1344.39 POPOV35: All right, POPOV 35 has smoke. Let me know how those friendlies are right now, please. 1344.45 MANILA 34: Roger, standby. 1344.49 POPOV35: Gotta go home dude. 1344.50 POPOV36: Yeah, I know. We’re f***ed. 1345.54 POPOV35: S***. 1346.01 POPOV36: As you cross the circle, you are 3 o’clock low. 1346.03 POPOV35: Roger. 1346.12 POPOV35: POPOV 35 is Bingo. Let us know what’s happening. 13446.15 MANILA HOTEL: Roger. We are getting that information for you right now. Standby. 1346.20 POPOV36: F***. 1346.47 MANILA 34: POPOV, this is MANILA 34 over. 1346.51 POPOV35: Go. 1346.55 MANILA 34: POPOV 4, MANILA 34 over. 1347.01 POPOV35: Go. 1347.02 MANILA 34: We are getting an initial brief that there was one killed and one wounded, over. 1347.09 POPOV35: Copy. RTB (return to base). 1347.18 POPOV35: I’m going to be sick. 1347.24 POPOV36: Ah f***. 1347.48 POPOV35: Did you hear? 1347.51 POPOV36: Yeah, this sucks. 1347.52 POPOV35: We’re in jail dude. 1347.59 POPOV36: Aaaahhhh. 1348.12 SKY CHIEF: MANILA this is SKY CHIEF over. 1348.18 MANILA34: This is MANILA 34, send SKY CHIEF. 1348.22 COSTA58: SKY CHIEF, SKY CHIEF. COSTA 58. 1348.25 MANILA HOTEL: SKY CHIEF, this is MANILA HOTEL. 1348.30 COSTA58: SKY CHIEF, SKY CHIEF. COSTA 58. 1348.41 SKY CHIEF: Relaying for TWINACT, the A-10s are running against friendlies. 1348.47 COSTA58: POPOV 35, this is COSTA58. Relaying message for TWINACT. Abort, abort. 1348.54 SKY CHIEF: MANILA how copy A-10s are running against friendlies. Abort. Over. 1349.07 COSTA58: From TWINACT, abort, abort. 1349. 11 POPOV35: POPOV 35 aborting. 1349.14 COSTA58: We will relay that back to TWINACT. 1349.18 POPOV36: F***. God f***ing s***. 1350.21 POPOV36: Dammit. F***ing damn it. 1351.17 P0POV36: God dammit. F*** me dead (weeping). 1351.25 POPOV35: You with me? 1351.27 POPOV36: Yeah. 1351.30 POPOV35: They did say there were no friendlies. 1351.33 POPOV36: Yeah, I know that thing with the orange panels is going to screw us. They look like orange rockets on top. 1351.48 POPOV35: Your tape still on? 1351.49 POPOV36: Yeah. 1351.54 POPOV35: Mine is end of tape. Transcript ends.

The total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq has risen to 131 after a soldier was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Basra on 5 February. An unnamed soldier was killed in the southern part of Basra on 5 February after the patrol vehicle in which he was travelling was hit by a roadside bomb. The explosion, which also wounded a number of Iraqi civilians, occurred near the US consulate in the city.

Hi Richard, I totally agree with you, hence I have deleted the offensive reply. I hope this meets with your approval. Keeping things on the level. Gordon 4424.

The more I look inot this, the less inclined I am to believe it. I suppose there will always by the dubious history of where the Swiss got their gold from, whether it be seized Nazi gold, from banks,etc. melted down jewellery or teeth. I am however curious as to how they can say that the mercury would have all been burnt off, surely for it to be there in the first place it must have been present when they made the teeth? Also if it is so easily dismissed, why does it keep cropping up, in books & documentarys, is there no one out there that can finally put this to bed?

Quotes from some recent correspondence… “Yes I do have some Gulf issue sovereigns they were all mint condition NEW ones straight from the Royal mint still in paper wrappers wish I had not unwrapped them now, but they are all dated 2003” “I did have some sovereigns issued to me, they also issued Krugerrands, but because of their size they were harder to hide on your person the reason they tried the Krugerrands is that they are 1oz of 22ct fine gold and a sovereign is 1/4 oz of 22ct so less is more.” “I was issued x2 packs that had 10 in each and they were all 2003 as they came straight from the Mint, you were supposed to hand them back in but as you didn't actually get a receipt if you used them there was no way of anyone knowing how many if any you had used”.

Quotes from some recent correspondence… “Yes I do have some Gulf issue sovereigns they were all mint condition NEW ones straight from the Royal mint still in paper wrappers wish I had not unwrapped them now, but they are all dated 2003” “I did have some sovereigns issued to me, they also issued Krugerrands, but because of their size they were harder to hide on your person the reason they tried the Krugerrands is that they are 1oz of 22ct fine gold and a sovereign is 1/4 oz of 22ct so less is more.” “I was issued x2 packs that had 10 in each and they were all 2003 as they came straight from the Mint, you were supposed to hand them back in but as you didn't actually get a receipt if you used them there was no way of anyone knowing how many if any you had used”.

I have come across new evidence that suggests that sovereigns, were also issued during Telic as they were on Granby. In the latest war, 2003 sovereigns were issued straight from the Royal Mint. Further updates to follow........

I have come across new evidence that suggests that sovereigns, were also issued during Telic as they were on Granby. In the latest war, 2003 sovereigns were issued straight from the Royal Mint. Further updates to follow........

Here are a few links that you might find of interest..... http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/68/a4167768.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/00/a3566900.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/37/a3206837.shtml http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/4927708.stm

Hi Guys, Sorry if I`ve laboured this thread a bit, but I just find it really interesting. The above book certain looks like one I should be reading!!! I`ll have to keep an eye out for a copy. Gordon.

Found this on another forum.... The Swiss national bank (SNB) minted 20’008’813 gold coins, so called "VRENELI" (not francs) from 1945-1947, using goldbars, which were already in possession of the SNB before 1939. As a result of the Washington treaties 1946, the Swiss handed out 250 Mio Francs in Gold to the Americans for the "redevelopment of Europe". The allied declared this would satisfy all claims toward the SNB for their gold trades during WWII. According to some sources this gold is still in N.Y., meanwhile the Swiss had to pay again 50 years later. Now, I`m not convinced with the old resmelt the gold with pre dates gag, didn`t the Nazi`s do this with the Belguim gold in the first place? Interestingly it also mentions in this documentary that the Swiss would shoot down allied planes that strayied into their airspace, I`d be very interested to know if they did the same in Nazi planes? If this is the case, then this doc, is floored, if they didn`t then this is another case, for the Swiss have a lot to answer for. But then again so do the Spanish or Portuguese!!!!

I recently watched a documentary, about Nazi gold. During it there was a short piece on Swiss gold francs, being made from gold teeth. They had this dental expert, would confirmed that there is a very high mercury level in Swiss gold francs, higher than in any other gold coin, which would suggest the use of dental gold, to mint them.

The total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq has risen to 130 after a soldier was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Basra on 21 January. An unnamed soldier was killed in the northern part of Basra on 21 January after the patrol vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb. Four soldiers were also injured, one "very seriously". British soldier killed in Basra The soldier was on a routine patrol when the attack happened A British soldier has been killed in southern Iraq after his Warrior patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. Four soldiers were also injured, one "very seriously", in the attack on the routine patrol in the north of Basra. The soldier was serving with 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry, as part of a unit attached to 1st Battalion the Staffordshire Regiment, officials said. About 7,000 UK troops are in Basra. The government says it hopes to transfer security to Iraqi forces this year. The casualties have been medically evacuated from the scene and are receiving the best possible medical care at the field hospital The attack happened near the districts of Al Hadi and Al Jezaizah. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said it was unclear whether the soldiers had been dismounted from the armoured vehicle when they were attacked. "The casualties have been medically evacuated from the scene and are receiving the best possible medical care at the field hospital," he added. The soldier has not yet been named but the MoD said his family had been informed. Heavy casualties A total of 130 British troops have now died in Iraq since March 2003, of whom 99 are classed as having been killed in action. On Thursday a rocket attack on the British Basra Palace military camp wounded six soldiers, one seriously. And on Wednesday, two British soldiers sustained minor injuries after a roadside bomb exploded in the Al Ashshar area of Basra province. US forces in Iraq suffered some of their heaviest casualties in recent months on Saturday, with 25 personnel killed. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceN...rahCityIraq.htm

I love a happy ending!!!!

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/site/...eadquarters.htm

Hi Guys, Having just recently read a very good book about the Brinks Mat gold bullion robbery. It got me thinking as to were the Royal Mint, gets their gold from, and is it possbile that some of this gold, might well have made its way into the Royal Mint? Has anyone got any thoughts or opinions? Look forward to hearing them..... Gordon.