Gunner 1

paja: Yes, the first one does have a Roman numeral on the back side. Interesting that you should mention the small red box with the blue interior. I have one with a title on the lid indicative of a third class of the order, ORDEN / RADA / III / REDA, but the indentation in the blue interior has the shape of a Type I Order of Labor. When I purchased the item it contained a Third Class insignia Type 1A numbered 1316. I also have slightly smaller, somewhat deeper red-colored box for the II Class of the order with a red interior. It is a Type I, numbered 460.

A Type 2A with another different case and a certificate.

Type 2A with a different case.

Two articles in JOMSA: The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America about the French Fourragére by the late Graham Wilson: 1. Wilson, Graham: "Rope of Courage: A Brief Look at the French Fourragére." JOMSA, March-April 2011, p 32-38. 2. Wilson, Graham: "The Fourragére in the Colors of the Ribbon of the Cross for Military Valor, a Recent French Award." JOMSA March-April 2016, p 27-32. Regards, Gunner 1

Mike: What is the name and number of your man who served in the UK and received the BWM. I would like to see what the medal roll states for his BWM. Regards, Gunner 1

pikemedals wrote: "if he only served in England only get the bwm as welL" Actually the vast majority of British Army personnel did not receive the BWM for service only in the UK. British Army personnel had to leave their country of residence and go overseas to receive the BWM. P.F. wrote: "are many online records available?" Medal index cards for British soldiers are available online at Ancestry.com and/or The National Archives; these will indicate the medals that each soldier received. Some papers for British other-ranks who served during the Great War are available on Ancestry.com but the large majority of them were destroyed by bombing during WWII.

On the roll as T/4258 John Perrott, 17th Company, Commissariat and Transport Corps. Entitled to the clasp TEL-EL-KEBIR. The question of cleaning should generate some strong opinions on both side of the issue as some like their medals dark and dirty and others wish them parade-ground clean, and there is little middle-ground between the two opinions. As you continue to collect British medals you will learn that it is best to buy the finest example of a particular medal that your budget will allow. Medals that are heavily damaged (as the rim of your medal) or missing clasps and suspensions generally are not favored by most collectors. By the time you have a genuine suspension and clasp added to this medal the cost will probably more than you paid for the medal and you will still have a medal that has damage to the rim and some damage to the face of the medal. That said, you will have a chance to do additional research as Perrott's service records are available on Find My Past at: http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fwo363-4%2f007337054%2f00996&parentid=gbm%2fwo363-4%2f7337054%2f34%2f995

I have sent you a reply by PM. Gunner 1

Nutlet: The information I posted came from the June 1916 Monthly Army List and his medal index card. Interestingly I can not find him mentioned in the Hampshire Territorial Record. Are you sure that there is not a copy of Army Form B 103 (Casualty Form - Active Service) in his service file? If there is and you can post it, we might be able to determine his RGA postings. Gunner 1

The medals from left to right are: George Cross, Military Cross, 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; and the Australia Service Medal 1939-45. The soldier was obviously Australian. Regards, Gunner 1

In June 1916 Nuthall was serving with No. 4 Company, Hants RGA at Plymouth. He went to France and Flanders on 1 August 1916 but I have not yet been able to identify his unit. The notation 'NW/7/9568' is not his service number (officers did not have service numbers at that time); it is just a notation of a minute note which is probably no longer available. Do his officer's papers from Kew indicate any Heavy Battery or Siege Battery in which he served overseas (there should be a "Casualty Form" that lists the units in which he served overseas)? Interestingly I cannot find him indicated as wounded in any of the Royal Artillery casualty lists in the RA Institution Leaflets issued during the period of his "injury".

Brett: I like the two Natal Naval Volunteer QSAs, especially as one is for the defence of Ladysmith and the other for the relief.

Brett: Nice medal group to Mizon. I have seen very few groups to the Battery. The group to Comrie is also a fine group with both the CAF Decoration and Long Service Medal.

Rob: Reference you post #4 concerning Gnr Herbert Mitchell. The Norfolk Yeomanry in Peace and War by Jeremy Bastin gives a very detailed look at the service of 65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA during WWII. According to that source the only battery of the Regiment that had men captured on 24 January 1942 was 260th Battery which on that date was away from the Regiment under the command of 1st Armoured Division somewhere near Antelat. As the regiment moved westward it came into contact with a large group of German tanks. It turned eastward to escape but "quite a proportion" became POWs. Regards, Gunner 1

Group of five to Captain F W Dean, RGA who received his QSA for service as a Sergeant with Chestnut Battery, RHA. Commissioned in January 1915 he served through out the Great War with the RGA reaching the rank of Captain. He earned the GSM with SOUTH PERSIA clasp for service between 14 September 1918 to 8 May 1919 (one of 15 RA officers who earned this clasp).

Rob: He was a Lieutenant at the time of his capture. On 29 October 1899 two battalions of infantry and the 10th Mountain Battery were ordered to seize Nicholson's Nek, six miles north of Ladysmith, and to cover Sir George White’s left while his main body attacked Long Hill. Marching through the night the infantry were scrambling up the steep side of Nicholson’s Nek in the darkness when something caused the mules of the infantry transport to stampede. The mules rushed down through the infantry and the panic spread through the mules of the mountain battery who ran away carrying the mountain guns, artillery ammunition and the reserves of rifle ammunition, along with the heliograph used to communicate with the main column. As for No. 10 Mountain Battery, RGA, its commander, all three subalterns and 84 men were taken prisoner by the Boers, but were released after a few days.

The group of five to Lt. Col. G R H Nugent, RA who was taken POW at Nicholson's Nek on 29 October 1899 while serving with 10th Mountain Battery, RGA. Later released he commanded B2 Pom-Pom Section, RGA and was Adjutant of the Siege Train during the war. During the Great War he served as AAQMG in the 34th Division until being severely wounded on the Somme on 10 March 1916. He was gazetted for the OBE in the London Gazette of 3 June 1919.

War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941 shows: "Major (Comsy) , IML: Asst. Secy., Defence Dept., 1 Aug 37 to 12 May 39; Estabt. Officer, Defence Dept. 13 May 39. The war of 1914-21- Aden 29 Jan 17 to 29 Nov 17 The October 1946 Indian Army List shows: Lt Col (Commissaries) Shearcroft, Reginald James, MBE, born 14 Jan 1893, Director of Mily, Regis, and Forms, Defence Dept. effective 27 Oct 41. Regards, Gunner 1

I wondered who beat me out on eBay for Murray's Victory Medal.

Sgt. Griswold: The medal in the third image appears to be a knight of the Order of Leopold II on a British Military Cross ribbon. The cross in the middle of the second photo appears to be the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross.

Rick: If you would like a higher resolution image feel free to PM me with your email address. Regards, Gunner 1

The 1903 Cambridge crew with J S Carter at the far left of the back row.

Rob: George Frederick May is shown in the September 1939 Security Edition of The Monthly Army List as one of the two Quartermasters in 53rd (London) Medium Regiment, RA TA. The regiment served in France and Belgium with the BEF from October 1939 to June 1940 so it is quite likely he was captured at that time. You might want to obtain a copy of the war diary for 53rd Medium Regiment, RA for the period 01 Sept 1939 to 30 June 1940 which is at The National Archives under WO 167/540. Regards, Gunner 1

Bill: I have just published a blog on the Type III VM on the 'blog section' of the Orders and Medals Society of America website (www.omsa.org). A blog on the Type I, IR and II VMs has already been published there.

Rob: The best that I can say is the I searched the TNA catalog with the name Frei in the 'Recommendations for military honours and awards 1935-1990' and there was nothing found. My experience is that very few MiD recommendations are contained in the TNA database as I have only found one out of over 100 for which I have searched.