censlenov

Very true, the only way to know if he was wounded or discharged due to illness will be his service file/pension record. Cheers Chris

Quick glance at the card tells me a couple of interesting little bits. First his discharge date and SWB issuance tell me he was wounded as to be found unfit for duty and discharged. Second his date of entrance into theatre being Sept 1914 wound have qualified him for the 1914 star had he been deployed to France or Belgium however since he was deployed to 3 (egypt (later in the war 3 meant Russia)) he only qualified for the 1914-15 star. His pension records may be available on ancestry. Cheers Chris

I don't have any details about his career to add but will say that is a cracking ww2 Naval combination. Cheers Chris

Chris you are bang on with stating this is mostly likely issued for wounds received during ww1 even with the ER2 cypher. Its not overly common but i've seen several and even more with GEOvi cyphers. If a service mans life was shortened due to the wounds he received in the war his next of kin is eligible for the award. Many of these casualties had poor lung capacity thanks to being gassed and their deaths were link to this underlying condition. In fact just recently i read of a cross being awarded to a man's family (within the past year or so) because he died of a fall at home when his knee gave out. It turned out it was the same knee that was severly wounded in ww2 and thus his wound was considered directly responsible for his death. Very bizarre. Chris i need to get a couple guys researched if your interested i can have his name added to my list and my researcher can get me his file. Cheers Chris E

Ask an Yea shall receive Brian S- when referencing the Gordons (or any of the Scottish Highland Regiments) indicates a wartime enlistment. Had it been a S- prefix on other units it would mean something different. Cheers Chris

great group we don't get to see many British / Commonwealth groups on the forum. Great engraving on the back of the MC. Cheers Chris

Hmm. quite the mystery. It looks like the LSGC was issued in Army order 368 of 1926 (according to the card) with a corresponding index number to the right. But.... perhaps he foreited it late on.. although i would have thought that would be on his MIC. The group to my eyes looks like it was mounted for display not wear so it was probably done by someone other than the recipient. Cheers Chris

I wouldn't have shelled out anywhere near the price of an RK for that. We did touch on the fact it could be a field mod but without definative proof its just a tampered with EK2. It would be like buying an orginal British medal renamed in a contemporary fashion how can you prove that the medal was indeed worn by the man on the edge you simply can't. I think it was sound advice given. Chris

That British sword sure has seen better days. Great pieces Lorenzo. Cheers Chris

Hello Gents The largest bars they had in stock are 190mm as thats a six place bar (largest standard issue british medal bar). If you want one at 215mm I can have it machined at my buddies shop its not hard to do as i can draft it up on ACAD and he can fab it in the shop. Supplies and my buddies time would run around $20-25cdn a piece would you guys be willing to pay that much? Cheers Chris

Hi Darrell I know QSA Mike quite well and have also met Arctic medals Mike before. They are not one in the same. QSA Mike is Mike W And arctic medals Mike is Mike M. Mike W's collection is very impressive and extensive and Mike M has some nice pieces on offer on his site. Hope this clears up a little confusion about the Calgary collecting community. Cheers Chris

Great QSA do either of you guys have any to canadian units you could post for me. I really am starting to draw to these QSA's especially those to the canadian mounted rifles. Cheers Chris

What i find bizarre is that there is no Pacific clasp on the Burma star. Must have been a strange set of events to earn all the others yet not receive the pacific star/clasp. Great group. Cheers Chris

I could calc off of the single ribbon width but it would save me time if you just gave me the total width of the layout. Do you guys need to have swing mount bars from the 70's or would a current manufacture piece do they're the same thing just newer? I can get the new one very easy as the British base down the roads has a bunch in the tailors shop. Cheers Chris

Easily, but i'd need to have some dimensions of the ribbons to get the right sized bar. I'll send you an email with what i require. Cheers Chris

It looks like a standard British swing mount bar. Not suprising given the countries history with the Levies Cheers Chris

Thanks for posting your Vimy casualty medal. I imagine you already know that it's very easy to obtain his service file and circumstances of death should you wish to research the medal any further. The CEF attestation papers and unit war diaries are also free to use online. I have 5 other groups i have to post yet but just havn't had time to do the write ups. Cheers Chris

This is one of my favorite pictures of Bennett because the way the group is mounted is just as it is in my collection. I have at least a dozen pictures of Mr. Bennett throughout his life.

Michael John Bennett was born, August 7, 1881 in Witney Oxforshire England, His father Harry Bennett was the caretaker on the local Corn exchange. Michaels mother Agnes Jane had a total of 4 girls and 6 boys. As a young boy Michael was the town crier and would charge a shilling to anyone who wanted him to announce an item of interest to the public. He also sold copies of the Witney Gazette. On November 20th 1899 Michael enlisted at Witney with the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade and was assigned the regimental number 7144. He was 18 years 3 months old and listed his trade as carpenter. Michael served at home until December 15 1901 when he embarked for South Africa. The 4th Battalion arrived just near the end of the Orange River Colony campaign and remained there until February 3rd 1903. For his part in the campaign Michael was awarded the Queens South Africa medal with bars Cape Colony, Orange Free State and South Africa 1902. The 4th Battalion then returned home for service and remained there until November 7th 1905. On December 24th 1903 Pte. Bennett was awarded Good Conduct pay for the first time. On March 30 1904 Pte. Bennett extended his service following his first 5 year tour of duty. On November 20th of the same year he was once again granted good conduct pay. The next posting of the 4th was to Malta where it remained until October 21st 1907. While in Malta Michael was awarded 2 good conduct badges on December 24 1905, only to forfeit one on May 24th 1906. The forfeited badge was restored once again on May 14th 1907. On November 19th 1907 Pte. Bennett was transferred from the Colours to the Reserves. Michael married Alice May Edward of Duckington England on May 2, 1908 at St. Mary's Church, Witney and a year later William John Bennett was born. In 1910 the Bennett’s decided to emigrate to Canada. Michael was granted permission to emigrate to Canada on April 14 1910 by the CO of the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade. Michael embarked for in Canada alone as prior to disembarking for Canada Alice became pregnant once more and did not want to risk the harsh conditions of Canada at that time on a newly born Edna May. 18 months later Alice and the children followed and the family settled in Medicine Hat Alberta. Michaels final bit of service was preformed at home (In Canada) expiring on November 19th 1911. In Canada Michael, Alice, and their children lived a quite life in their small house at 1155 Bridge Street. Michael once again took up the trade of carpentry and helped to build up his surrounding community. Over the next few years the Bennett’s grew their family adding two more boys to the mix Frank James and Harry Hugh. Indeed life was good. Medicine Hat was a growing community as industry began rapid development upon the discovery of immense natural gas deposits and the surrounding area was prime for agriculture and ranching. With the Outbreak of WW1 in august 1914 Michael once again answered the call and joined the 21st Alberta Hussars (Militia) and trained with them until enlisting on January 26th 1916 with the 175th (Medicine Hat) Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force for overseas service. Michael’s extensive prewar service made him an ideal NCO candidate and he was advanced to the rank of Acting Company Sergeant Major and given the service number 696033. The 175th sailed from Halifax on October 4th 1916 aboard the S.S. Saxonia. They arrived at Liverpool England on the 13th of the same month and proceeded to Bramshott. At Bramshott the 175th was absorbed into the 21st reserve battalion on January 10th 1917. CSM Bennett spent many months in England waiting for his chance to ship over to France for active service. Finally on September 11th 1917 in hopes of speeding up the process CSM Bennett requested to revert to the rank of A/SGT. Another month passed and now A/SGT continued his performance of draft conduction duty until on November 10th 1917 he was transferred to the command of OTC Bechill. Bennett’s service file doesn’t go into detail about his time at Bechill because less then a month later he was sent to France and joined the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion on December 3rd. The first bit of action Michael saw with the 10th was at Scarpe between the 27th of April and 4th of May 1918. This was a defensive operation, which found the 10th Battalion once again in the Somme sector. This operation took place in the Fampoux area on the Anzain-Arras Road made beside the Scarpe River. The 10th Battalions war diary makes this action sound as if the 10ths primary concern was dodging artillery bombardments and enemy airplane strafing. The 10th did conduct several trench raids during this period. On April 28th 1918 while with the 10th A/Sgt Bennett was reverted to the ranks. The service file does not give any indication of why and neither does the war diary. The Amiens offensive once again saw the 10th play an important role especially during the Second Battle of Arras (2–3 September, 1918). Built in 1918 by the Germans at the road from Arras to Cambrai the Drocourt-Quéant (DQ) line, was but a part of the famous Hindenberg Line, a large series of German fortifications and defensive positions defended by a broad glacis, protected by machine-gun nests and wide belts of barbed wire with large, deep tunnels to protect the garrison. The line was attacked at 05:00 by the 1st and 4th divisions of the Canadian Corps, with the support of a large number of tanks and of Brutinel's Brigade (formerly the Canadian Independent Force) The line was carried 6,000 yards deep along the whole of the Canadian front with the capture of 5,000 unwounded prisoners by the Canadians in this one operation. Together with the capture of Mont St. Quentin and Péronne by the Australians this left Ludendorff's Winter Defence Line unsupportable, forcing him to withdraw the 17th and 3rd Armies behind the Sensée and the Canal du Nord on the night of 2/3 September. Following the battle Michael reported to the 2nd Canadian Field Ambulance on account of deficient vision. He remained there until the 9th of September when he was once again discharged to duty. Following its own actions of the previous week the 31st battalion was badly in need of reinforcing and Michael was transferred to them on the 13th. Following a string of rank reversion with the 10th the 31st saw Pte. Bennett promoted to L/Cpl. On October 7th, A/Cpl. On November 20th and Cpl. January 20th 1919. When speaking about his war time experiences Michael would vividly recall “You had to keep your head down or you’d get it blown off!!” He would spend “8 days at a time (or more) in wet muddy ditches all over France I will not forget.” Following the cessation of hostilities Michael proceeded to CDD Witley on April 22nd 1919 and proceeded back to Canada from Liverpool aboard HMT Cedria on May 20th 1919. He was formally discharged from the CEF on June 1st 1919. Whilst once again a civilian Michael learned that the London Gazette of 3/7/19 had him listed amongst the recipients of the Military Medal. In depth research has turned up nothing in regards to the conditions of the award (however that does not mean I’ll give up searching). The MM almost certainly awarded for his role in the Amiens Offensive Campaign. Following his return to Medicine Hat Michael resumed his work as a carpenter and helped to found the local Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (Michael remained a life long Legionnaire). Michael and Alice also had four more children Jack, Arthur, Doris, and Agnes. The Bennett’s moved to Lethbridge Alberta, #323 - 15 Street South in around 1923 where Michael was employed as a street car driver and later worked for Becker Lumber. In 1927 an ample coal supply was unearthed at Shaughnessy Alberta and the community boomed. The Bennett’s moved to Shaughnessy in 1929 where Michael resumed practicing his trade as a carpenter which was much in demand. Eventually Michael built a boarding house which his family operated for years. Later they owned the Hotel Shaughnessy, including a small store, near the east side of town. Today Shaughnessy is no more than a small town with a population of only around 1,000 people (including local farmers). It’s known locally for its Corn maze. The Shaughnessy Hotel still stands and continues operation today at 198 Donaldson Street. One thing to note about Lethbridge and Shaughnessy is that the two communities are only a short distance from on another and the Michael remained an active member in the Lethbridge community as well. At the outbreak of the Second World War Michael was much too old for active service however he did affiliate himself with the Veterans guard and aided them in whatever way he could. Three of Michael’s five sons Jack, Frank, and Harry did serve however and all returned home at the end of the war. In 1957 Alice May passed away. It was a loss that Michael deeply felt until his own passing many years later. In 1960 Michael was invited to Buckingham Palace on July 14th to attend an afternoon party in the garden in honour of surviving veterans of the Boer War. However it is unclear if it was this event Michael attended or one held 3 years later. During the 1960’s Michael was very active in the Lethbridge Historical Society (LHS) and Kiwanis club. In fact while researching Michael it became very apparent that the archivist at the Galt museum knew of him because it was due to the effort of Michael and the LHS that the Galt museum and archives was formed. In fact a great many photos and documents pertaining to Michael are in the museums holdings (of which I’m getting copies) With the passage of time Michael began living with his daughter Agnes’ at Abbotsford British Columbia (B.C.). In 1975 Michael and his Daughter moved to Tappen B.C.. Due to his aging and deteriorating health Michael was moved into the Shuswap Lake General Hospital extended care ward in about 1975/76 Michael Passed away at Salmon Arm B.C. on November 27, 1982. Age 101 years, 3 months, 20days. His funeral service was at the chapel of Bowers Funeral Home in Salmon Arm Tuesday November 30 at 2:30pm. Father David Apivor officiated and the Royal Canadian Legion held its own grave side service directed by Bill Sonne. PSALM XXIII The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. In Michael’s final years he did many interviews with the local press in hopes of ensuring that the legacy of Veterans from his conflict would continue on. “I’ll never forget”. Michaels own legacy continues on in the Hearts of his 12 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. One of whom was extremely helpful in compiling this research. Thanks so much Trevor. A note on Michael’s medals the QSA is named to the Rfile Brigade, His ww1 pair to the 10-can inf. And his MM to the 31st Can Inf. He was also awarded a Class A War Service Badge numbered 70916 however this is not with his other medals. This is a continuing work that will be added to on occasion. I look forward to hearing your comments. Cheers Chris

I like them they all look good. If you have a black light shine it on them and it'll tell you for sure. Cheers Chris

Nice medal David Welcome to the world of British medal collecting. If you ever have any questions about research etc. or are ever looking for a particular piece drop me a line i'm more than willing to help out. Cheers Chris

Don't Forget New Zealand also has a very similar cross based on the Canadian one. As for your question yep first time something like this has been done by the UK. However campaign medals would be issued to the next of kin but nothing specifically for honouring the casualties memory. It's also interesting in another way as it may turn what were once complete medal groups in ones collection into broken groups. All it would take is the next of kin applying for this medal after selling off the previous group decades ago....... Cheers Chris

Getting those RPG's out of Taliban hands is a great days work. Excellent Job and as we say in the CF Combat Enginees CHIMO!!! Cheers Chris

Hi Frank http://cgi.ebay.com/VIMY-RIDGE-MILITARY-CR...%3A1%7C294%3A50 The above auction is currently running on ebay. My thought is that the lot you posted will go for about $13,000 canadian Cheers Chris

What about Captain R Henry Shaw who joined the 4th on Exchange from the 60th in January 1808. Gazetted the 23rd of January 1808. What happened to him??