Gunner 1

Ferdinand: Very true!! Gunner 1

Ferdinand wrote:

Just a small addition - the Major General in post #31 isn't 'Fedyunskii' but the well-known Fedyuninsky, who became an Army General in 1955

Actually it depends on the language and transliteration form being used. According to the transliteration form used by the Library of Congress the name of the Major General would be 'Fediuninskii.' Gunner 1

According to the latest edition of British Battles and Medals China 1900 medals to the Indian Army were named in a script similar to that on your medal. Gunner 1

It depends on the medal and the naming that is on it. It may be a later issue; a replacement medal; or a renamed medal. Anyone collecting Victorian medals really needs to own a copy of British Battles and Medals, 7th Edition which has photos of all the proper namings on British campaign medals. Gunner 1

Lt-Col Ralph Stephenson Clarke, TD, MP, RA

Born at Chesham Street, London, SW on 17 August 1892, the eldest son of Col. Stephenson Robert Clarke, CB, JP and his wife. Edith Gertrude, third daughter of Joseph Godman, JP, DL of Park Hatch, Surrey

Educated at Eton from 1905 to 1910 (Shooting Viii, 1910; Oppidian) and King's College, Cambridge, BA, 1913, MA, 1919

Served with the Sussex Yeomanry (attached to the Royal Sussex Regiment) from 1914 to 1919 in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine

Wounded in Beersheeba in 1917

ADC, Commander-in-Chief Southern Command in 1918

On 15 December 1921 he married Rebecca Mary, daughter of Gerald Buxton of Birch Hall, Theydon Bois, Essex and they had three children, Robert Hunn Stephenson Clarke born on 17 April 1925; Simon Edward Stephenson Clarke born on 5 September 1926; and Anne Stephenson Clarke, born on 1 March 1923.

From 24 November 1922 to 1933 he commanded 389th Battery, 98th (Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry) Field Brigade, RFA TA

From 1933 he commanded 98th Field Brigade, RA TA

Deputy Lieutenant, Sussex from 4 June 1932

1936- MP, East Sussex (East Grinstead Division)

From 1938 to 1939 he was Parliamentry Private Secretary to Earl Winterton

Lt-Col, OC, 2nd Field Training Regiment, RA from 1939 to 1941

Lt-Col, OC, 12th (Finsbury Rifles) LAA Regiment, RA from 1941 to 1944 in Iran, Iraq and Sicily (Mentioned in Despatches)

Military Member, Sussex Territorial Army Association

Hon. Colonel, 344th (Sussex Yeomanry) LAA/SL Regiment, RA TA

Director of Stephenson Clarke and Associated Companies, Ltd. and of A. P. Austin and Son (Sunderland) Limited, shipbuilders.

Sources: Who's Who in Sussex, 1935; The Old Public School-Boys Who's Who, Eton; List of Etonians Who Fought in the Great War 1914-1919; Eton School Register, Part VIII 1899-1909; A Register of Admissions to King's College, Cambridge, 1797-1925; List of Etonians Who Fought in the World War 1939-1945; Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes; Who's Who, 1950; Fifty Years of Sport, Eton, Harrow, Winchester.

Regards, Gunner 1

A 1914-1916 Croix de Guerre with a silver star and bronze star in a DSO group of 11 to a Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Field Artillery. Gunner 1

Letter forwarding the Croix de Guerre to Captain Cox.

Capt. Cox's award document with citation. Gunner 1

A Croix de Guerre with Palm awarded to Capt. I R Cox, RGA on 7 July 1918 (London Gazette of 29 November 1918. His award document with citation is shown in the next post. Gunner 1

I have an Order of the Jugoslavian Flag, 4th Class numbered on the reverse '542' and a 5th Class, unnumbered, but with a certificated to 'Marie-Ghislaine Vlekke'. Is there a date for when the numbering ended and the unnumbered versions began to be issued? Gunner 1

His name is given as Shmuel' Ziskovich Shapiro in Kavalery Ordena Slavy Trekh Stepenei and the information appears to be the same as that given in the documentation for "Mikhail Aleksandrovich Shapiro. His photo is attached. Gunner 1

Major Grigorii Evseevich Nikitenko

A Ukrainian born on 22 August 1909 at Raspaseeka (now Troisk), Voroshilovgrad to a family of rural workers.

Joined the Communist Party in 1940

Graduated from the 5th Level and then worked in a brigade at a collective farm.

Enlisted in the Soviet Army in 1931 and graduated from a course for Junior Lieutenants at the Kiev Artillery School.

Veteran of the Soviet-Finnish War 1939-1940.

Platoon Commander in the 225th Howitzer Artillery Regiment, in the 51st Infantry Division, 13th Army, Northwestern Front.

His gold star (No. 495)(7 August 1940) was awarded for assisting in the breaking of the enemy defenses on the Karelian front. On February 28th 1940 the platoon under his command fired over open sights destroyinga 'dzot', two enemy mortars and a large group of enemy infantry. Although wounded, he did not leave the battlefield. His artillery platoon greatly assisted the advance of an infantry battalion.

He graduated from the Odessa Artillery School in 1941.

At the front of the Great Patriotic War in June 1941.

Commanded an artillery battery during the defense of Odessa where he was severely wounded.

Remained in the army after the war, until joining the reserves as a Major in 1948.

He retired to the city of Nikolaev and died on September 2, 1996.

Was awarded the Gold Star of a Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin, Order of Patriotic War, 1st Class and two Orders of the Red Star.

His photo is below

Regards. Gunner 1

Sochor, Jaros and Svoboda and possibly other Czech HSUs are featured on Czech stamps of the 1940s. Regards, Gunner 1

His German medals were on a German style medal bar and the US BSM and campaign medals were separate and in their issue boxes when I last saw them. There was also a set of officers' shoulder straps with an artillery shell and if remember correctly some type of "wings" on them. Gunner 1

British and Canadian World War I Victory Medals to officers did not carry the name of the unit, but if the medal is named to a 2nd Lieutenant or Lieutenant you can tell the difference between those issued to Brits and those issued to Canadians by comparing the 'I" in 'Lieut." Gunner 1

As a teen ager I lived next door to a man from the German-speaking part of Switzerland who served as an artillery balloon observer in the German Army during World War I, winning the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, the silver wound badge and a couple of German states' war crosses. He came to the US after the war, became a US citizen and was a real estate dealer. Because he spoke fluent French and German he was appointed as a Captain in the US Army and served as a Civil Affairs Officer in France and Germany during 1944 and 1945 receiving a US Bronze Star Medal. He is the one who started me in medal collecting when I was a high school student. I wish I had taken a photo of his medal group. Regards, Gunner 1

Someone previously, on this forum or another, asked about the actions that won Gunner Graham his MM and I replied with a quote from the unit history that gave some detail about the action. Was that you. If not, let me know and I can resend it. Regards, Gunner 1

Major Maurice Cecil Walker, MC, RGA

Born on 28 Nov 96, the son of G W Walker, KC, 38 Fitzwilliam Square Dublin

Educated at Glenalmond School from 1912 to 1914 and at University of Dublin, BA 1919.

2nd Lt, RGA, 1915

Lieut, RGA, 1917

Acting Captain, 1917

Acting Major, 1918

Military Cross, London Gazette of 3 June 1918 while commanding 154 Siege Battery, RGA

In 1919 he was the author of the battery unit history: A History of 154 Siege Battery, RGA, France 1916-19

Passed Bar Final Exam in 1920

Employed as Barrister-at-Law, Ireland

His address in 1929 was 43 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin

Photo of Major Walker below is from the last mentioned source.

Sources: The Glenalmond Register 1847-1929; University of Dublin War List, 1922; A History of 154 Siege Battery, RGA, France 1916-19.

Regards, Gunner 1

I think Ralph is right on! The 1939-1945 War Medal was awarded to all full-time armed forces personnel who served for more than 28 days and the 1939-1945 Star was awarded only to military personnel who served (with a few exceptions) for a period of at least six-months in an area of active operations. This would appear to indicate that it would be impossible for a civilian to have either of these awards or for a bar with a 1939-1945 Star to not have a 1939-1945 War Medal. Gunner 1

Major Herbert Greene, RGA, MC*

Born on 24 September 1896, the son of Rev. Robert Venables Green, Dyke, Berkhamsted, Herts

Educated at Mill Hill School from 1911 to 1915 (VI, OTC) and at St. Andrews University from 1915 (B. Sc., Ph. D., 1924)

Gentleman Cadet, Royal Military College, Woolwich

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, RGA on 28 February 1917

Served in France and Belgium and was twice wounded and once gassed.

Military Cross as 2nd Lieutenant, 154 Siege Battery, RGA (London Gazette, 24 Sept 1918: ?For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He accompanied a raiding party, having volunteered to act as guide. When the officer in charge fell into a lake he took command and led the party on its objective. Finding this unoccupied, he pushed on to some dug-outs, which he thoroughly bombed, and shot one of the enemy himself. He was slightly wounded in the head during the operations, but continued to direct the party.?

Bar to Military Cross, as Lieutenant, 154th Siege Battery, RGA (London Gazette, 8 Mar 1919; citation, London Gazette, 4 Oct 1919: ?For cool courage and devotion to duty. At Bergwick, on 5th November, 1918, he was in charge of a column of the battery guns being drawn by caterpillars. The enemy put down a burst of shell fire, getting a direct hit on one of the caterpillars, setting it alight. He got the remaining caterpillars out of danger, helped to uncouple the gun from the burning caterpillars and, assisted by a Serjeant and the drivers, he got them clear. His coolness and energy saved a dangerous situation. The enemy continued shelling throughout the proceedings.?

After the war at Carnegie Chemical Research School.

Editor or University Magazine

1924- Assistant Government Chemist in the Sudan; Gezira Research Mission, Wad Medina, Sudan

His address in 1926 was: 82 Lower Addiscombe Road, East Croydon, Surrey

Sources: Book of Remembrance and War Record of Mill Hill School; The Register of Mill Hill School, London, 18-7-1926; University of St. Andrews Roll of Honour and Roll of Service, 1914-1919; A History of 154 Siege Battery, RGA, France 1916-1919.

Gunner 1

My understanding is that Gene Ursual's business will continue to be run by Tanya. Steve Ackley (Ackley Unlimited) (email: Aunltd@aol.com) publishes a periodic list of British and foreign medals. He has been in business for over 20 years and I can highly recommend him. Gunner 1

Senior Lieutenant Petr Grigorievich Iakubovskii (#22) received his DFC "For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Lieutenant Iakubovskii made 366 flights, including 148 reconnaissance flights over enemy armies, and 58 air battles. He shot down 14 enemy planes and one in a group battle. In a strafing flight over the enemy, Lieutenant Iakubovskii personally set fire to 42 motor vehicles, blew up 3 warehouses with military supplies an one fuel dump, and dispersed and partially destroyed 250 enemy officers and men." (General Orders Number 7, US Military Mission, Moscow, USSR, dated 15 June 1944.) Regards, Gunner 1

The certificate for Lieutenant Akulshin's star:

The reverse of the star to Lieutenant Akulshin, numbered 2376, the same as the certificate: