Jim Maclean

Looks OK, I like what appears to be a slight taper to the slider.

As I said, this is most likely a repeater gauge from an engine or topedo room. The main depth gauge would have been much larger, probably about 10 inches diameter and I would think that there would be more than one. This is more a general info for the lads type gauge not one that would be relied upon for a reliable depth indication. Unless thing got really dire of course.

Just a mile past the bridge Paul.

I can't actually remember seeing gauges on board ship with a crows foot. Usually the NSN was hand written. The fitting looks correct to be British, I don't think it's going to be the boat's main gauge as that would most probably have been considerably larger. Maybe an engine room repeater.

Thanks Kev they mean a lot to me.

They're a fine pipe, I've got 2, one smooth and one rough. Both of them are 'bent' like the one in the photo. Curiously I bought both before I ever saw the photos. I don't think smoking a pipe is pretentious, owning 10 though is borderline . Unless you're a closet collector

This is not an easy bayonet to identify positively from photos alone. My brother has one that for a short time we really thought was a really rare bayonet. Not so unfortunately. What is needed is accurate dimensions of the muzzle ring for one. All the blade markings and hilt markings will help identify this one. It takes up a few pages in my books. Please post the markings, meanwhile I'll check my notes and books for you. As an edit, it looks in superb condition, do you have a scabbard for it?

It's Navy slang Jim . Used to be 'skin and essence' when I was in. Stokers, a few, ROs, lots, TAS apes.........never

Anyone that has been 'button boy' has my undying admiration . I did some time on a sailing ship and changing the masthead lamp bulbs seriously made my bottom pucker and that was with a safety harness.

Not entirely correct young shaver , "L" & "M" weren't introduced until the 80s when the old Ordnance Electrical Mechanics became MEM(L) and the Marine Engineering Mechanics became MEM(M). This badge could quite easily be pre 1980. The stars above and below are a nightmare to sort out over the decades, this particular badge when I was in could be worn by a MEM1(AMC), which meant auxiliary machinery watchkeeper, ie. generators, evaporators etc., always worn by an LMEM and could also have been worn by a newly promoted POMEM. Thank goodness as a clanky tiff I didn't have to worry about branch badges. I could always remember what I had to do without looking at my sleeve in the morning. The marksman badges are also strange, at present I believe there is only one which is crossed rifles with a crown above, don't know about slings, must check on that. My grandfather qualified as a 1st class marksman and wore crossed rifles with slings and a star above, 2nd class was crossed rifles and 3rd class was a horizontal rifle. As to a RN sniper badge I think they're even more long range than the RA, probably an army or RM badge.

You are of course in this instance correct, SPAG wear the light bulb and on the right cuff as you say, AFAIK they do not have a definitive badge. I base my argument on the fact that I personally knew 2 vicars, one ex-bootie that joined the RN and one ex TA para that joined the RN. All wore the wings on the left cuff.

Been talking to my younger brother about this, he left the RN only 10 years ago, he cannot remember ever seeing the para badge worn on the upper right arm in the blue unform. He was at times involved with the Submarine Parachute Assistance Group. He tells me they wore the badge on the upper right arm only in No8s/AWD and combats. Blue uniform, left cuff. Of course BR81 should tell the story but it's not on line that I can find. Maybe as a serving member you could consult your local Master/Mistress at Arms and find the truth through ammendments. Also of interest to people I'm sure would be which arm a badge was worn on. I'm pretty sure also that there was a limit on the amount of badges that could be worn. i.e. if you were para qualified, ship's diver, marksman, helo controller, seacat aimer, navi's yeoman, commando trained et al you couldn't wear the lot. Far too transatlantic What's that branch badge on the right arm? Was I seen off ?

Any idea when the dress regs changed? Certainly during the 70's they were worn on the left cuff.

It's a Turkish M1935 conversion, this has been bugging me since you first posted it. I thought it was Turkish but couldn't remember where I'd seen it. Then I looked in Janzen's. AS. FR is the abbreviation for Military Factory. Seems to be that they converted every thing under the sun to fit their Model 1935 rifle. PM me your email addy and I'll scan the relevant pages, you'll then know as much as me and can make up your own mind which conversion it is

Thanks Tony. From what I know he went back to the police and stayed in Bechuanaland until he died. Details about him are sketchy, reading between the lines he was a bit of a black sheep I think. On the back of the picture of him with a pipe is an inscription saying he was well under the influence when it was taken. I've downloaded his Medal Index Cards from Kew (he's got 3!) and it appears he was discharged from the army 28/10/1915. I'm going to try to find out from my uncle that lives in Canada when he died, and take it from there, though I suspect trying to research a career with the Bech. Protectorate Police will be difficult. I wonder how good the Botswana national archives are? Here are his brother, my grandfather's WW1 medals, along with his WW2 medals still in their packets.

Thanks Doc, I always wished I'd met him but unfortunately I didn't. He must have been an interesting man. Even though he loved his life in Africa he never forgot his family.

Early one

After a game hunt. Just love that Peterson pipe, still made today.

Here's a couple of pics, first probably him on the right with only a QSA

These medals are from my Grandfather's brother. His QSA is from his time with the Royal Sussex Regiment. I believe from what I was told he was totally enamourmed with South Africa and when his initial enlistment was up went back and joined the Bechuanaland Police. Obviously he was back in the UK when WW1 broke out as he must have re-enlisted pretty quickly to get the 1914 Star (AVC). From his medal index cards it appears that he did not see out the whole of WW1 and probably went back to Bechuanaland to earn the LS medal with the police.

That was what I thought about the staybrites, I'm not keen on the slidered King's Crown versions for no other reason that they don't seem to come up with the 'vet obtained' stuff. Hope you enjoyed the holiday.

It takes a brave or foolish man to break the seal of one left dormant for so long as I found in Glasgow. I was not that brave More foolish. Breaking an intact and never before used one though..........................

Don't you mean the "Third Way" as extolled by President Blair (Send the other f@cker) Ignore the the Death and claim the Glory

OK not strictly Para but does anyone have any ideas on this SAS badge. Whose, when etc.? Two lug fasteners on the back.

Not a bad little set that came with a pair of Q/C collars, shame about the bad wing on one of the collars