geoff

With top bar: Geoff

Can concur with Chris, purchased a citation card recently for a friend, grandfather had been in R.A. in North Africa, some cracking information, well worth the money. Geoff

Hi, just a little more info. on the medal manufacture, medal is a two part construction, the disc on the obverse been seperately made from the star and then attached, as such, both parts had to be marked with the England sterling mark (lion passant), the obverse disc has the England sterling mark (lion passant) just above the shield, you'll need a loop to see it clearly. Geoff

Thats spot on Brian well done, I'm sure you'll soon make your funds up BANTAM BATTALIONS (information taken from the www) ? 85. Mr. WATT asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the raising of a battalion of less height than the regulations permit, namely, 5 feet 3 inches, has been sanctioned for several towns in England, including Manchester, Leeds, Birkenhead and Bury; whether this permission has been refused to the large Scottish towns, including Glasgow and Edinburgh; if so, will he say why this distinction has been made; and is he now prepared to put the two countries on an equal basis so far as the raising of bantam battalions is concerned? Early in the war, when hundreds of thousands of young men were rushing to enlist, there were tens of thousands who found their patriotic ambitions thwarted by regulations. Age was probably the main one, but this was easily circumvented, and there are many stories of youngsters who, having been refused when they gave their true age, simply went to the end of the queue and added a couple of years when their turn came round again. It was more difficult, though to overcome the Army's minimum height, which was 5 feet 3 inches. No matter how fit, strong or willing a man might be, there was no room for him in the army if he could not meet this height requirement. It took time, but eventually the authorities came to realise that there was a large number of would-be soldiers, keen and eager to serve, and that there were big hearts beating within their small frames. Special Battalions - which became known as Bantam Battalions - were formed and at last, there was a place for these small men who wanted to prove that they could be as good soldiers as any of their taller brothers. Geoff

Hi, I have had the link checked out and it is working fine, downloads no problem, could be your Firewall, try turning it off and giving the download a shot, or it could be your internet settings, you could try restoring defaults in settings and then giving it a go, other than these two options I can't think of what else might be the problem. Geoff

This is only an opinion as this is definitly not my field, UK Scottish regiments usually had a piece of the regimental tartan behind their badge, don't know why! good luck maybe? anyway this looks like a piece of red beret, possibly UK Parachute Regiment, either way, I am assuming it would be unofficial as a member of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force. (not sure if it would be allowed). Totally agree with Kev. Go on somebody shoot me down Geoff

For those interested, I came upon the original theme on another forum covering Regiments.org their archive is available in Mediafire and can be downloaded for free using this link for access http://www.mediafire.com/?213ycdmywzx Geoff

Hi Ed, yes it could be burned to CD, a last resort maybe, other options being tried first. Geoff

Hi Stuart if you pm me your e mail address I will have a go at compressing the file, 28mb, and sending it by e mail, not sure if it will work, not sure if I can compress it enough for my provider to allow me to send it, I will try over the weekend. Geoff

Yes, I also took advantage of the free download of the archives from Regiments.org as they were available for only a limited period, now, sadly, no longer available. Geoff

Hi, have you tried the National Archives website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1, your man's MIC is there, for ?3.50 you can download a copy it will give you basic information, medal entitlement, date of entry and theatre of war. Medal card of Henry W.Randall Welsh Regiment 5779 Private. Welsh Regiment 201579 Private. (2 numbers just means he was there when the numbering system was altered, can't really expand as I'm not a WW1 expert but I believe it was in 1915 so I would presume his star would have the smaller number and his remaining entitlement the second number). Error's on medal naming for WWI is quite common, nothing to worry about, usually the number would be OK, I have a death plaque with the recipients name spelt differently from his medals. I would advise obtaining his MIC its a starting point, try the 1901 census, again a small cost, try Ancestory, they are doing 14 days free membership, you could get his MIC for nothing if they have it, they also show the reverse which may have an address, you never know there might be something there. http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ There is also a forum called The Great War Forum, I notice they have an update on the Welsh regiment, try this link http://www.1914-1918.net/index.htm. Hope this helps, good luck Geoff

There was an article on another forum about regiments.org, they no longer exist but the work that had been carried out on their website was available to download for anyone who was interested, for a limited period, I only know this because I downloaded their website for future use, some good information on there, now sadly no longer available. Geoff

That's a cracking present Brian, spot on piece of research as well, nice and thoughtful of your other half, wonder if I should start dropping hints Well done Geoff

Hi guys in response to BIGJAROFWASPS link to the times this link may be of some interest http://www.parliament.the-stationery-offic.../80226h0001.htm Westminster Hall, Tuesday 26 February 2008 [Miss Anne Begg in the Chair] Medals (Armed Forces Personnel) I agree, they need to get their fingers out. Geoff

Hi just like to add a comment on authenticity, I read an article a while back about copy and authentic M.C.'s and spotting the difference, I seem to remember that original M.C.'s always have a counter sunk suspension hole on the rear of the cross. If the above is deemed to be correct then I concur with previous comments on it's authenticity, well done. Best regards Geoff.

A while ago now I posted a topic relating to a S.A.M. to a member of 42 Cdo RM and the possibilties of finding the recipient for research, this is the link to my original posting http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=19523&hl=geoff, well, with help from another forum the recipient was eventually tracked down through the 'Once A Marine Always A Marine Forum' this is my guys story, he did provide photographs as well which are embeded in the actual research they have not been included in this piece but I have included the picture title, hope you enjoy. MNE1 C.A.FALCKE PO39003B SOUTH ATLANTIC MEDAL Chris Alexander Falcke was born 8th July 1962 in Chelsea, London. In June 1979 at 16 years 11 months he enrolled with the Commando Training Centre, Lymstone, Devon for the 30 week recruit training course as part of 249 Troop (juniors), the troop was made up of 64 recruits, by the end of the course, February 1980, the coveted green beret (CGB) was gained and MNE C.A.Falcke passed out with 15 other recruits and became a Marine and member of 42 Cdo. (Only 16 of the original 64 recruits completed the 30 week training course). During the early months of his career, 1981/82, an S3 Signals course was completed (specialist course designated MNE1) along with an LV2 Drivers Course; two Arctic (deployments) exercises were also undertaken in Norway. The Marines have trained in Norway for decades, refining skills and honing talents. Their saying goes: "If you can fight and survive in Norway then you can do it anywhere." It was shortly after returning from arduous yet highly appropriate arctic warfare in Norway that Chris was to be contacted about his call up in preparation for his trip to the Falklands, ?we were on leave at the time (just come back from arctic deployment in Norway). Busy getting pissed with an oppo in Hastings. His Dad received a phone call and came (with the police) to a night club to get us (I think they?d done a little tour of Hastings looking for us!). We thought it was a bite at first then decided it might be serious. I drove home to Folkestone and then back to Bickleigh where we were detailed off on various preparatory tasks (sorting preparing kit, vehicle loading/prep etc.). I was then detailed off to a reinforcement holding company based at HMS Raleigh where we did training on the L.M.G., First Aid and anti-aircraft. Then a last night on the piss at Stonehouse before an early morning flight to Ascension Island to join LSL Sir Bedivere?. MNE1 C.A.FALCKE was to travel to the Ascension Island by air as 89th Reinforcement Holding Company, part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, (Amphibious Group), Chris describes the atmosphere, ?there was a general feeling of excitement, apprehension and fear that it would all blow over before we got there. Worries that the yanks would get involved, worries that it would turn into a Vietnam situation and worries about the bloody awful weather in the South Atlantic! However, at no point did any of us believe we could not do the job! For many of us (18 & 19 years old) the biggest fear was that we would (a) not get involved/get ashore and (b) that if we did it would be to replace dead comrades!, (if RM casualties had begun to mount we would have been deployed either individually or in section strength to make up numbers?.not a nice thought!)? The journey South from Ascension went well aboard LSL Sir Bedivere, ?we had a large a mexe float strapped to the side (big green metal pontoon used by the engine ears) and general ?stores?. The weather was typically South Atlantic ? blowing a bloody hooley ? force 8+ most of the trip, I?ve never had sea sickness ? I?ve always had good sea legs (thank God!) I believe we (Royal Marines) were in small troop strength, about 30 of us serving as gun crew on Sir Bed. Exercise was carried out on the cargo deck when possible ? mostly circuits and static exercises. Lots of gun drills for both 40 mm Bofors and GPMG/LMG (Bren gun converted to 7.62mm). Time was passed playing cards, winding each other up and on watch (got to helm the boat a fair few times). Reactions to radio broadcasts were often mixed ? great sorrow (and a little apprehension) at the news of boats hit and great elation (mixed with some envy) at news of the exploits of the guys ashore. We were eager (young and stupid) to get to grips with the argie ? whether he came at us by boat, submarine or plane we thought we were ready to have a go.? Picture...Helicopter at dusk, preparing for the journey south from Ascension part of the relief force. As part of the Amphibious Group (?Operation Sutton?) and arriving a day after the first troops stormed the beaches at San Carlos, East Falkland, (Overnight 23rd/24th RFA Resource, Sir Bedivere and Tidepool, the latter to refuel warships, enter San Carlos) LSL Sir Bedivere ? spent a day as a sitting duck waiting to unload men and equipment. The stretch of water was later dubbed ?bomb alley? after the intense air raids against the would-be liberators. Three ships were sunk in the first days of the British counter attack. Picture....Monday 24th May 1982 LSL Sir Bedivere entering San Carlos Water (Bomb Alley) and passes the burning hull of HMS Antelope. Antelope sank that afternoon. One of the first sights from the Sir Bedivere for those on board was that of the HMS Antelope on fire. HMS Antelope was hit with two 500 pound bombs which crashed through her decks, killing a young steward on the way, and buried themselves in her engine room. They did not explode but Antelope, was sailed into San Carlos Water for repairs, and to have the bombs defused. Staff Sergeant Jim Prescott of the Royal Engineers was attempting to do that when one of them exploded and killed him instantly. The explosion tore a hole in her starboard side, from the waterline to the funnel; the fire was unstoppable and she had to be abandoned. The next afternoon with her back broken, Antelope sank. Chris explains his feelings when he witnessed this ?there was a great sadness and an overall desire to get back at the Argies [revenge I guess]? Picture....Mne1 C.Falcke on duty with an LMG, San Carlos Water (Bomb Alley) August 24th 1982 While in San Carlos water, LSL Sir Bedivere was hit and her 20 ton crane was badly damaged, when an Argentine Skyhawk A-4C, flying from San Julian and Rio Grande, dropped a 1000lb bomb. The bomb cut through the cranes steel plating and bounced into the sea before exploding, fortunately there were no casualties and no serious damage, Chris ?at this present time, most of the photographs of San Carlos Water you will see a picture of a Mirage doing a low pass stern to bow over Sir Bed. I was just aft of the port side Bofors (mounted on the fo?castle) spraying the sky with an LMG (Bren gun converted to 7.62 mm)? Chris explains about the tension during the waiting and then the offloading operation? ?I seem to recall we were in San Carlos waters just after the main landing to drop off the mexe float and stores (I can't remember what they actually were) but I do recall an urgency to things with all of us on deck scanning the sky?s for Argies?. LSL Sir Bedivere was lucky to survive the onslaught. (Sir Bedivere, Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot hit by UXBs, but Lancelot scores hits with Bofors and machine guns on a Skyhawk and a Mirage. RM "Blowpipe" section aboard Sir Bedivere claims a probable victim. RFAs Fort Austin, Tidepool and Stromness all near missed by 1,000lb bombs. The fact more ships were not lost was in part down to the work of the 11th Squadron. After the men finally got ashore it was their job to build a runway and fuel supply point for the Harrier jump jets that would help defend against the relentless Argentine attacks. Overnight 24th/25th RFAs Tidepool, Sir Tristram, Sir Bedivere and MV Norland were escorted out of Falkland sound and eventually out of TEZ Picture....Sir Bedivere leaving the Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) bomb damage can be seen forward of the port crane Chris remained with the Sir Bedivere around the TEZ until the 14th June ?doing an awful lot of duties on deck - mostly as gun crew and I also stood a few watches at the helm? News of the Argentines surrender? ?On board Sir Bedivere - the news came through to us over the tannoy. After they surrendered we went onto MV Norland for a stint of argie repatriation (one trip to Montevideo and one to Puerto Madryn) We were very cautious ? they were nervous and frightened ? we kept thinking what would we do if the roles were reversed! So we all had ideas on how they would overpower ?us? if we were them!? Picture....Argentine Prisoners of War aboard MV Norland being repatriated. Chris explains when he finally set foot on the liberated Falklands: ?We got ashore about 3/4days after the surrender (to look after prisoners) -we managed to get a little sightseeing done (nearly got ourselves razzed when we found a Pharnard Armoured Car to go play in!) Got a few souvenirs - mostly Argie kit. We also confiscated a fair bit of kit from the prisoners once they were on board and we carried out thorough searches, (officers gloves, compasses, a pair of rather nice .45s in a presentation box etc.) A funny thing, my oppo. and I had the air admiral cleaning the deck in his cabin - got a big bollocking from the ships captain afterwards. We managed to keep hold of a lot of Argie stuff, especially guns which we had a good play with off the stern of the ship just before we reached Ascension. Picture....Mne1 C.A.Falcke (far left) with a couple of oppo?s posing on a captured Argentine 155mm gun in Port Stanley, along the Airport Road. By the time of the surrender, a number of ships were already well on their way north or had reached the UK, including nuclear submarine "Splendid", destroyer "Glasgow", frigates "Alacrity" and "Argonaut", RFA "Fort Austin", some of the BP tankers and the "Queen Elizabeth 2" to her great welcome. Although more ships would soon follow, a first priority was to start getting the land forces home as soon as "Canberra" and "Norland" had played their part in taking the large number of Argentine POW's off Britain's hands and back to their homeland. Picture below ?Just off Ascension on the way home, the swimming pool was constructed from tarpaulin and some pallets, (it was actually my 20th birthday) from Ascension we flew to back to Brize Norton landing about 5hrs before the Great White Whale docked? Picture....Troops relax on Sir Bedivere on their return journey to Ascension (bit of sunbathing and swimming in a home made pool Chris left the Royal Marines in June 1983 and openly admits ?I did all sorts of crap jobs and generally messing about to pay the rent (or more often ? not). Finally got my head together, got a Degree and for the last 8 years I have taught Sports Science at Canterbury College (mostly anatomy and physiology but also sports sociology/development and gym instruction). Around 10,000 Falklands veterans and their families joined serving members of the Armed Forces for the 25th anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict which was commemorated across 8,000 miles (12,875km) and five time zones, in London and the Falkland Islands on Sunday 17 June... 18 Jun 07. Picture....Chris on parade with fellow Royal Marines, Sunday 17th June 2007 Picture....Chris Falcke and daughter, the Falklands 25th anniversary in London 2007. Chris and his family presently reside in Sittingbourne, Kent, Chris works at Canterbury College. RFA Sir Bedivere (L3004) a Landing Ship Logistic (LSL) in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). She was laid down on the 28th of October 1965 and launched on the 20th of July the following year. RFA Sir Bedivere was completed on the 18th of May 1967, and operated under commercial management of British India Steam Navigation Company. Built for army service, she was taken over by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service in January of 1970. On the 25 of September 1984, Falkland Island battle honours were presented to RFA Sir Bedivere along with RFA Sir Geraint and Sir Percivale at Marchwood Military Port. Picture....The Round Table class LSLs (Landing Ship Logistics) supplement the amphibious assault ships that are commissioned warships in the Royal Navy. She is the sole survivor of the of the Sir Lancelot LSL class in service with the RFA. Her role is to provide seaborne logistic transport and to support both mine countermeasure vessels and also amphibious operations by Royal Marines and the British Army. To accomplish this task the ship has many special design features, including doors in the bow and stern for rapid loading and unloading. Her shallow draught enables the ship to be beached if she cannot be unloaded at a secure port. Sir Bedivere can operate large helicopters from her flight deck aft and the vehicle deck amidships giving the ability to VERTREP (Vertical replenishment. This refers to aerial supply of seaborne vessels by helicopter of equipment and/or personnel ashore.) Her highly specialized role means that she is great demand for service with British, NATO and Coalition Forces. At the beginning of April 1982, RFA Sir Bedivere was recalled from Canada. By the 29th of April she had been loaded and sailed from her home port of Marchwood for the Falklands. The next day the total exclusion zone around the Falklands came into effect. Some two weeks later Sir Bedivere sailed form Ascension, and four days later on the 18th of May Active Service declaration in the South Atlantic is formally announced. Although the tragic story of her sister Sir Galahad in the Falklands is well documented, Sir Bedivere was the first RFA to be bombed during the 1982 war. RFA Sir Bedivere finally returned to the United Kingdom on the 16th of November 1982, carrying the remains of 64 British Servicemen killed in the Falklands War, not buried or lost at sea. The policy had long been for those killed on active service to remain in the country where they fell, but many families chose to bring their men home for burial, another sixteen however, including Lt Col Jones VC, stayed in the Falklands. Geoff

Hi again, just found this link http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/collections_special.htm, might clear up the Chinese connection Geoff

Hi Chris, I believe the only involvement the Chinese had/have in the VC manufacture is that some of the captured Russian guns were Chinese made. I read this somewhere and it's been stated in another reply Geoff

Just showed the wife that picture , it brings a tear to the eye Geoff

Hi, picked this info. off the web, it will answer your question: I joined the Royal Navy in January 1964 at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint East Cornwall. I was what Ganges and St Vincent boys called a '16 week wonder'. I did one week in new entry then 6 weeks 'Part I' Training' in Anson Division - Class 102, then 10 weeks in 'Part II' in Jellico Division - Class 902. Our Instructor was PO Hampson. We Passed out in May 1964, I joined as Junior Seaman 2nd Class No SQ I left as a Junior Seaman 1st Class SQ Seaman Gunner, Onto HMS Cambridge for basic training, Wage on joining ?5 per fortnight. On completion of training ?6. (I bet we would all like a 20% increase today). Geoff

Hi Hugh, As a result of the 1993 Review of gallantry awards and resultant changes to the operational gallantry award system, the Military Cross was made available to both officers and other ranks, the Military Medal was discontinued. Geoff.

Hi Leigh, hope you don't mind, I've stuck this one in, China 1900, Pte J.Tranter 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers...RELIEF OF PEKIN. Geoff

Yes, thats correct, probably the ultimate battle in the Crimea, shame that its rarely mentioned, ask any guy on the street to name a battle from the Crimea and the answer will nearly always be the same, 'Balaclava' a fiasco of poor communication and mismanagement and yet, through all this, it showed the Victorian soldiers steel and unquestioning acceptance of authority!!! oh yes, and, Queen and Country. Geoff.

Hi, I have checked the rolls for the Scots Fus. Guards, your guy is not mentioned, the rolls are difficult to read though there is a guy named William Hoad on the roll, entitled to the clasps you mention, he was killed at Inkerman! this might well be your man, hope this helps. Best regards Geoff

And after Sorry, just need to add this final note, all my family, that's Mam, brothers and sister and my son's now appreciate their father and grandfather was also a young man once, we all tend to lose sight of this with the passage of time, sadly he passed away in 1995 and with this restored photograph, he is 18 years of age, has given us all an image of the young, fit man he so obviously was.