Duncan

I took these photos in 2007 in Trebah Gardens in Cornwall. The beach there was used as an embarkation beach by the US for D-day. The photo of the undergrowth shows trenches dug by US anti-aircraft gun crews. The beach photos show concrete square blocks that look like huge chocolate bars. The blocks formed a concrete mat that covered the beach so tanks could drive on to the landing craft. Unfortunately, last time I went all the blocks has been cleared away and the trenches no longer visible. Trebah Gardens used to make quite a bit of its D-day connection, with quite a few displays and notice boards around. Unfortunately all that seems to have been removed now too and apart from a small monument down by the beach, there's nothing linking it to D-day now.

Hello everyone, I bought a lovely set of letters sent from France just after D-Day by an American GI to a housewife in England he's been billeted with. Is there anyway I can find out more information on the soldier, his full details are on the front of the envelope (attached picture). He was obviously very fond of her, judging by the tone of the letters! Thank you, Duncan.

That's greatly, thank for the information. Regards Duncan.

I managed to pick up a named Italy Star, I assume its to a South African. Any tips on how I can trace him or get details of who he was and what unit he served with. He's '214473, J. G. KENNEDY'. Tried uploading a photo but kept getting an error message. Cheers Duncan.

That's great, thanks, I'll try and find them on the Internet.

Anyone know where I can get South African WW2 service records for service men? I'm in the UK. If they're not online anyone know of a good researcher. Cheers Duncan

Thanks for that. Can't find PI maker listed anywhere!

Can anyone identify the manufacturer stamp PI-GI, I can't seem to find it listed anywhere. And if they can whether it dates it to a specific date? Oddly the suspension broach is upside-down, so the pin opens the opposite to normal. Regards Duncan.

That's an amazing careers, thanks for sharing the photos and information.

Thanks everyone, that's really interesting. Seems the arrow head on the Vietnam Medal is quite rare after all. Is that an oak leaf on the National Defence Medal in the picture? What would that be for? Thought that medal only had campaign stars?

Does anyone have any pics of the US Vietnam Service Medal with ribbon elblems, particularly camping stars and arrow head combinations. I can't find any on google, so I assume they're a rare combination? Thanks, Duncan.

I think they've got quite a few wrong. There's another 'Ummond Paterson' listed as well as my great uncle. Unless that really is his name??? I think there was some software error that cut names short when it was closed, and now it's too much effort to correct the errors.

Yeah, it's really unacceptable. So my great uncle is forever commemorated as "Ummond Paterson"!!! I wish I'd never listed him on their website in the first place.

I spent ages downloading info on my Great Uncle onto the Imperial War Museum"s Lives of the First World War. He was Private 4121 William Drummond Paterson, Black Watch. I noticed the other day though that they've recorded him as "Ummond Paterson". I emailed them asking them to correct the mistake and got the following reply, can't say I'm very happy: Thank you for your enquiry regarding the Imperial War Museum's website 'Lives of the First World War'. The website acts as a digital memorial to the men and women who fought, whether on the home front or the front line, during WW1. When the project began in May 2014 the Imperial War Museum used seed records, such as Medal Index Cards to identify people to include in the project. I'm sorry that your great uncle's name is recorded incorrectly. The Lives of the First World War project provided a website for family, historians and researchers to add information and photographs to each record. The project closed in March 2019 and it is no longer possible to add information to the site. For help with family research the museum has put together some useful links which you can access here: Tracing your Family History Kind regards