bigjarofwasps

Hi interesting thread, don`t quote me on this but I`m sure that NATO have issued a Meritous Service Medal type thing, I`ll have a dig around and see if I can confirm this.......

Hi Guys,

I was reading an article recently about clasp issues for the various battles & phases of the South Africa War. I was surprised about the similarities between this campaign and the current one in Iraq, but thats a topic for another thread. My question for this one is, does anyone know the criteria to be awarded the QSA Medal with no clasps?

Gordon.

In India, the very ribbon for the GSM associated with Iraq became, by the late 1920s and early 1930s, an object of terror and recruiters going out to snag new soldiers were told to take it off when they went to villages lest the locals spy the ribbon and hide their sons away out ot reach. WWI ribbons were OK, and would actually help in recruiting, but not THAT ONE.

How very interesting!!!!! Do go into more detail, I`d very much like to know, more.

Does anyone know if any books been written about this campaign?

Hi Guys,

Watched a very interesting documentary on Sky yesterday. It was about the South Atlantic campaign, and the role played by the Islanders themselves. I had no idea they`d taken such an active role in the war. I was under the misguilded impression, that they were all kept locked in cattle sheds. But this certainly wasn`t the case, they kept the Paras on Longdon supplied with ammo, at considerable risk to themeselves, they carried the wounded to the Aid Stations, etc,etc.

My question is, were they issued with the SA Medal for thier efforts? Does anyone know.

Gordon.

Corporal Christopher Read, 22, from Poole, Dorset, of 158 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police died in hospital on 7 July.

Cpl Read was injured by small arms fire while returning in the early hours of the morning from an operation in Basra targeting groups thought to be behind recent attacks.

Lt Col Simon Miller, commanding officer 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, said Cpl Read was a "rising star".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6284172.stm

Watched a very interest documentary about the whole 911 thing, its called `Loose Change`, if you haven`t seen it its well worth a watch. It poses some interesting views of the whole incident, some very embarresing issues for the US government, I shouldn`t wonder. It also has a small bit about the gold in the vaults, under the WTC.

Cpl White from 1 RIFLES established himself as the best shot in the Army on Friday when he won the Queens Medal in spectacular fashion. Cpl White came from 14 points behind on equal third to clinch the coveted title from Capt Sam Roberts, a fellow Rifleman from 3 RIFLES.

Does anyone know if you wear this medal, with your campaign, etc, medals, or is it a keep sake type affair?

CALL-UP FOR HERO KILLED IN IRAQ

Published on 02/07/2007

Den Brady, who was killed on duty in IraqDEFENCE chiefs today apologised after sending a recruitment letter to a Barrow soldier killed in Iraq.

The call-up was received by the heartbroken mum of Lance Corporal Dennis Brady.

The 37-year-old medic, known as Den, was killed by a mortar in Basra in October last year.

Ministry of Defence chiefs have now phoned Brenda Brady, of Vulcan Road, to apologise for sending the letter, which asked the reservist to sign up for more service. Outraged Defence Secretary Des Browne has called for an investigation.

The MOD said The Adjutant General Lieutenant General Sir Freddie Viggers personally called Mrs Brady to apologise for the blunder.

Today Mrs Brady told the Evening Mail the situation had “all been sorted”.

The MOD has now also put a recruitment mailshot on hold as the scandal is being investigated. A spokesperson for the MoD said: “We apologise again for any upset this error has caused.

“The Adjutant General Lieutenant General Sir Freddie Viggers has spoken to the mother and apologised and we have stopped our next planned mailshot to ensure this does not happen again.”

Former Alfred Barrow School pupil, L/Cpl Brady was serving in Iraq as a reservist with the Royal Army Medical Corps, having left the regular Army in 2004. He had a long and illustrious career and had served in conflicts and peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Croatia.

He was described as professional, selfless, loving and courageous.

An MPs committee report due to be published tomorrow is expected to announce that staffing shortages in the armed forces mean that there are not enough servicemen and women to meet the demands placed on them by military commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Third UK soldier killed in Iraq

Soldiers were involved in a large-scale operation in Basra

Three British soldiers have died in two days following a major operation against insurgents in southern Iraq

Rifleman Edward Vakabua, 23, died following an accident at a military base in the city on 6 July.

Rifleman Edward Vakabua

Rifleman Vakabua, a Fijian national from Suva serving in Mortar Platoon attached to 7 Platoon, B Company, died at the Basra Palace base.

The Ministry of Defence has not given any details of the accident, but said an investigation had begun.

Rifleman Edward Vakabua was a "shy and pleasant" character, a spokesman said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3847051.stm

Lance Corporal Ryan Francis, 23, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, from Llanelli, south Wales, was killed in Basra on 7 July when his Warrior armoured vehicle was hit by a bomb.

Lance Corporal Ryan Francis

The soldier died in fighting involving 1,000 troops who faced machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades as British forces launched an operation targeting groups thought to be behind recent attacks.

Lt Col James Swift, commanding officer of the battalion said he was a "professional, brave and committed soldier who was the heart and soul of his platoon".

A second soldier who was seriously injured in the heavy fighting in Basra died from his wounds on Saturday. He has not been named but he is from 3 Regiment Royal Military Police.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3847051.stm

Found this, thought it might be of interest.......

http://coins.about.com/od/goldrarecoininve..._coin_fraud.htm

A British soldier died on 7 July during an operation in Basra involving 1,000 troops.

The dead soldier - in a Warrior vehicle patrol in the Tuninah district - was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Three other soldiers were injured in separate incidents during the operation targeting individuals suspected of other attacks.

On 6 July, a soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles died in an accident at the Basra Palace base. The Ministry of Defence said an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Two British soldiers die in Iraq

Evidence of the clashes could be seen in the morning

Two British soldiers have died in separate incidents in southern Iraq, the MoD said.

One soldier died during fighting in Basra which involved 1,000 troops, the other died in an accident at a British base in the city.

The UK deaths come as a bomb attack in northern Iraq killed 105 people.

The soldier who died in the fighting in Basra was in a Warrior vehicle patrol in the Tuninah district which was hit by an improvised explosive device.

The fatal accident involving the second soldier, who was from the 4th Battalion the Rifles, took place at the Basra Palace base on Friday.

Field hospital

In the fighting in Basra, troops faced machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades as British forces launched an operation targeting groups thought to be behind recent attacks.

The operation was the largest of its kind to be carried out in Basra this year, said UK military spokesman Major David Gell.

Its focus was individuals thought responsible for attacks on the Iraqi Provincial Joint Co-ordination Centre in the city, home to both Iraqi security forces and multi-national forces.

A number of locations were searched and arrests made, Major Gell said.

The soldier killed in fighting was on patrol just after midnight local time. Next of kin have yet to be informed.

Three soldiers are being treated at the British field hospital in Basra after unrelated incidents during the operation.

One soldier suffered serious injuries and another minor injury from small arms fire, and a further member of the armed forces was injured by an improvised explosive device.

The next of kin of the soldier who died in an accident have been informed.

"An investigation into the incident is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage," an MoD spokesman said.

Market attack

The blast in northern Iraq destroyed the market in the small town of Amirli, killing many people instantly and trapping dozens.

It was the most deadly single attack in Iraq since April, correspondents say.

It came as 29 people were killed in separate violence, including 22 who died overnight in Diyala province when a suicide bomber hit a cafe that was hosting a funeral.

And police said a family of seven sleeping on a Baghdad rooftop died when a mortar hit the building.

The total number of UK troops killed in Iraq since hostilities began in 2003 now stands at 158.

Most of the 5,500 British troops in Iraq are based in Basra

Of those who died, 122 are classed as having been killed in hostile action.

Most of the 5,500 UK troops in Iraq are stationed in Basra.

The bases frequently come under mortar fire from Shiite militants involved in a power-struggle in the city.

The BBC understands all personnel are shortly to be moved to a single base at Basra airport.

It is thought the plan over the next 12 months is to then reduce the number of troops to just 1,500.

OPERATION Banner draws to a close on July 31, 2007 bringing to an end the British Army’s longest continuously running military campaign. For the past 38 years, the Armed Forces have been immersed in supporting the police in public order and counter terrorism in Northern Ireland.

https://www.armynet.mod.uk/soldier/OPBANNER.pdf

UK soldier dies in Iraq fighting

A British soldier has been killed and three others wounded in three separate incidents around Basra, the Ministry of Defence has said.

About 1,000 troops are said to have been involved in the fighting.

Soldiers came under attack from machine gun and rocket propelled grenades, and encountered several roadside bombs.

The dead soldier was part of a Warrior vehicle patrol in the Tuninah district of the city, a spokesman said. Next of kin have yet to be informed.

Operations involving searches in the Jumhuriyah district are said to have resulted in a number of arrests.

Three troops killed in Iraq named

Privates Kerr and Kennedy both served in The Black Watch

The three British soldiers killed by a roadside bomb in the southern Iraqi city of Basra have been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Private Scott Kennedy, 20, Private James [Jamie] Kerr, 20, and Corporal Paul Joszko, 28, died in the attack at about 0100 local time on Thursday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6250974.stm

Not just American silver & gold coins it seems...

WTC Ground Zero Recovery 1989 $5 Maple Leaf Canada...Item number: 250136766427

Krugerrands, Gold Eagles, Maple Leafs, and other bullion coins also been slabbed.

September 11 was my first day of work in New York after law school and taking the bar exam. I left work and went to Ground Zero. There were a bunch of us who were military and were caught in the city - regulars on leave, reservists and National Guard, from every service and ranging from privates to colonels. We formed teams and joined with the police and fire and other rescue workers. It was initially search and rescue, but pretty quickly came to be search and recovery as there wasn't anyone alive to find. As sad as that was, that is actually a testament to those first responders who gave their lives, because they managed to get out of the area most of the people who could get out before the towers collapsed. Otherwise there could easily have been over 20,000 dead as initially feared.

Dave, that is truely amazing, what a story, to be able to tell you gran kids. Tough first day at work or what!!!! Prior to your law training which service were you in? Gordon.

Hi Dave,

Yes I`m sure your right, this is obviously a typing error from my source. I`ve been unable to confirm which tower these Iron Mountain Vaults, were underneath, maybe you can shine some light on this. I just assumed, that the vaults were under the WTC in general.

Very interested to hear that you were there!!!! Where/are part of the NY emergancy services, or just some guy who rolled his sleeves up and got stuck in? Either way respect respect respect!!!!!!

Gordon.

Examples recovered....

1) WTC 1987 Gem Silver Eagle

2) WTC 1987 MS69 Silver Eagle

3) WTC 1989 Gem Silver Eagle

4) WTC 1991 Gem Silver Eagle

5) WTC 1991 MS69 Silver Eagle

6) WTC 1993 Gem Silver Eagle

7) WTC 1993 MS68 Silver Eagle

8) WTC 1993 MS69 Silver Eagle (only 120 exist)

9) WTC 2000 Gem Silver Eagle

10) WTC 2001 Gem Silver Eagle

11) WTC 2001 MS68 Silver Eagle

12) WTC 2001 MS69 Silver Eagle

Three British soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb in the southern Iraqi city of Basra and a fourth soldier was also injured.

The explosion happened early in the morning on Thursday in the Al Antahiya district in the south-east of Basra.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6247960.stm

Corporal John Rigby, from Rye, East Sussex, died on his 24th birthday after being injured in a roadside bomb attack in Basra.

Corporal John Rigby was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra

The soldier, from the 4th Battalion The Rifles, was evacuated for medical treatment after the blast hit a British forces patrol returning to base, but died from his injuries.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6234512.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6923579.stm

Interesting, I`ve never seen one before, I assume its not gold?

I maybe wrong, but I don`t think you`ll be able to retire on any profits made by its sale. What medals did it come with, any details known on the guy who won them?

Buried WTC gold returns to futures trade

A fortune in gold trapped for seven weeks in the ruins of the World Trade Center officially returned to the global bullion trade Friday, but dealers had already closed the book on the tale of tragedy and buried treasure.

"You could in theory say that if things had gone much worse since September 11 and there had been rampant demand or something like that, that it might have been a story that affected the price. But at this point, I don't think it really was," said a metals specialist at a large commodity brokerage.

The $230 million in precious metals has been moved from the basement vaults of ScotiaMocatta Depository at 4 WTC, where it was stored on behalf of the New York Mercantile Exchange when the September 11 attacks brought down the twin towers. All warehouse staff got out safely.

In a joint statement Friday, NYBOT and ScotiaMocatta, the metals trading division of Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia, said the metals had been relocated and were again available to guaranty delivery of futures contracts exchange traded at the COMEX metals division of the NYMEX.

"All of the silver, gold, platinum, and palladium stored in its vaults at 4 World Trade Center have been successfully relocated by an Exchange-approved carrier to a newly Exchange-licensed Brink's Inc depository in Brooklyn," they said.

Spurred by authorities who wanted to demolish the building, by the potential for crime, and by whatever has always driven men to hunt for gold, emergency crews dug through the rubble and got a first glimpse of the gleaming booty on Oct 30.

Guarded by a small army of heavily armed federal agents, city policemen and firefighters began the massive task of moving about 12 tonnes of gold and 30 million ounces of silver. The hoard was estimated to be worth at least $230 million.

There were about 3,800 100-Troy-ounce registered gold bars in the underground COMEX warehouse. While gold is very dense, the task of loading the indestructible yellow metal onto armoured Brinks trucks was not nearly as cumbersome as moving the silver.

Experts said it would take some 50 tractor trailers to transport 30,000 1,000-ounce silver bars.

On top of that, it is believed that other treasures were kept in the vaults, including additional precious metals, jewels and securities. But there has been no information on whether these valuables were there or recovered.

ScotiaMocatta has applied to establish a new exchange-licensed depository in New York for silver, gold, platinum and palladium. Upon approval, the metal being held in ScotiaMocatta's custodial account at Brinks will be relocated to this facility, they said.

The NYMEX has another warehouse in Manhattan, operated by HSBC Bank USA.

Despite initial concern among precious metals dealers, the temporary lack of access to the metal hardly caused a ripple in the markets. The buried gold amounted to about 2 per cent of the 600-tonne-a-day global bullion market.

The metal was insured and supply was available from facilities at refiners elsewhere in the United States, though some may have been remelted into the 100-ounce bars of 99.5 per cent pure gold to meet COMEX delivery specifications.

The exchange said it plans to rescind its emergency rules which allowed an individual or firm taking delivery of metal under the terms of a futures contract to reject a warrant -- a document giving title -- for metal on deposit at the buried ScotiaMocatta vault.