Michael Johnson

Assyrian is a possibility, as many of them are Christians. When the Iraqis tried to take R.A.F. Station Habbiniyah in 1941, it was in part due to the heroism of the Assyrian Levies that the British were able to hold out. Michael

Very interesting, Bernhard. I wonder how many of us had relatives at Verdun? My great uncle Capitaine Marcel Verzieux was wounded there June 14, 1916 with the 2/13eme Compagnie, 3eme Régiment de Génie. Michael

Chris, If you post the name/number for the first war medals you never know what relationship might appear between the two men. Fortunately there is no D. Charles on the 6 SWB roll for the GSM bar S.E. Asia 1945-46. Michael

His number indicates that he first enlisted into the South Wales Borderers. The 6th Battalion of the SWB served in Burma with 72nd Bde. 36th Division. Later 71 Infantry Brigade, 26th Division). http://www.burmastar...uk/sthwales.htm

The hobby has changed a lot too. Thirty years ago in Toronto I had a choice of militaria shops (Wellington House, Ed Denby, Academy, etc.). All gone now (Richard moved to Oakville, same as me, but works from home). I used to get to the CSMMI show almost every month. Ever since I joined my church choir that's a rare event. On the plus side though, research is easier than ever, and one has the luxury of researching before buying. Three hours after spotting a pair to an R.G.A. casualty I knew his family story.

Since that was pre-digital, I will have to scan the photos. Interestingly enough, Stormont was purchased by Aristotle Onassis and converted to a luxury yacht. After his death the Royal Hellenic Navy took it over as H.H.M.S. Achilles. Gib had a phot of it sent to him by the Greek Captain.

Years ago I had the privilege of mounting the medals of my late father's partner, then Mr. Justice Wesley Gibson Gray, late R.C.N.V.R. (served H.M.C.S. Stormont) He had the 1939-45, France and Germany Star with Atlantic bar, C.V.S.M. and clasp, War Medal - and the Soviet 40th Anniversary Medal. I took some pictures, but I'm not sure whether I have a reverse shot of the last.

My friend Peter Monahan had a great comeback to the dealer's pitch of "It's very rare!" "So's bubonic plague, mate; doesn't mean you want to have it."

I have a couple of BWMs to Canadians who were with the Canadian War Graves Detachment. Looking at the War Diary, it is amazing how much time they spent in sports, usually working in the mornings and then having the afternoons for matches. I wonder if this was deliberate to keep them from thinking too much about their work. http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e063/e001550678.jpg It could also be dangerous work.

He was awarded the Second Afghan Medal and forfeited it for some unknown reason. The medal roll doesn't have any additional information. There don't appear to be any service records.

And a detail shot.

This is one I gave my wife, whose father was from Newfoundland. A very well made lady's compact, with powder dispenser, and slots for coins. Hopefully her man was one of those who returned. I've been to Beaumont-Hamel. Michael

TacHel, Good to hear that she is doing well. Physio is no fun (as I remember from a time 12 years ago when a ladder decided to obey the laws of gravity). Michael

I'm not much of a blogger, unless you count my "John and Marie" fiction on the Great War Forum. However, as I get older I feel the urge to muse in (semi) public, which is certainly better than wandering down the street talking to myself. I've been collecting since 1973, and have gone from British Military longarms to badges, to uniforms, to medals. I've never been an "I never sell anything" collector (can't afford to), but nonetheless bits and pieces of each historical period remain (like the non-original front sling swivel from my Martini-Henry III, and a .577 Snider brass cartridge). This is one of the downsides of collecting. Medals and badges can pass fairly easily on eBay, etc. But the bits of webbing, helmet covers, paper, etc. are harder to move. Even cataloguing it is beyond me. But realistically most of this stuff I will never look at again, the boys are now too big to fit the uniforms, and I certainly could use the spare change to finance more R.G.A. Victory Medals. I can't look on this as a retirement project, as retirement at 65 doesn't look like a realistic option for me. I suppose I could stuff a moving box and bill it as "Grand Militaria Surprise Package". Books are a similar problem. I've got a great British Colonial library, most of which I haven't looked at in nearly 30 years. I'm sure there are collectors out there who could use these books, but postage (even in Canada) is prohibitive. I remember all too clearly clearing out my parents' books from the family home in 1988 with my then fiancée, (now my wife of almost 25 years). It's not a job I want to wish on my sons.

This my tie into a family mystery. My uncle was Queen's Rangers, then joined 400 Squadron when it was formed in the mid-1930s. He joined the Active R.C.A.F. in 1939, and went Permanent Force in 1945. His medals, as given me by my aunt as mounted are: CVSM, War Medal, 1953 Coronation, CD (first type). Thus I was amazed to find in his service record that he was awarded the Efficiency Medal in 1934. My aunt vaguely remembered him wearing a green ribbon on his uniform. His record of service is confusing as his Army service is variously reported, including Cadet service. I'm not sure he had enough service for an Efficiency in 1934, but there is no annotation of the award being cancelled. There was anothe William Hamilton who served in 400 Sqn. but he was Permanent Force, so would not qualify for the Efficiency. It looks like they reckoned his service from 1939, and so awarded him a CD in 1951. He was killed in an accident in 1957, just prior to retirement, so no clasp.

Ancestry shows a Sub-Lt. Robert D.S. Crosse entitled to a First War Trio, sent to HMS Comus. His confidential reports and service record are available from National Archives here: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results.asp?searchtype=browserefine&query=first_name%3drobert%7clast_name%3dcrosse&catid=33&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=* According to Ancestry he married twice, and died in 1967. He retired as a Commander and was latterly a company director. OBE Jan 1, 1945 http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36866/supplements/8 Make of this what you will: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38366/pages/4318

1. The flag with the hand above was issued to those who served in Algeria in the 1950s and early 60s. And a very nasty war that one was. 2. 45th Engineers (lent to the French Air Force, hence the wings) 1955-1980, 1993-96 3. UNIFIL French contingent

There is something to be said about recognition for the "scope dopes" who worked the Pinetree, Mid-Canada, and DEW Lines. While the R.C.A.F. did its best to create little communities, most bases were miles from anywhere.

"Church of England, fall out right. Roman Catholics, fall out left. Dissenters, report for fatigues!" That about sums it up, with certain modifications for Scottish regiments. For the R.C.s it probably depended on whether they had their own Chaplain, or whether (as in France 1914-18) there was a church nearby.

Many were earned by Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Indians for service overseas, or in areas threatened by the enemy. This meant among others, the U.K., the Middle East (Egypt, Iraq, Persia, Syria). I have a Discharge certificate to a man who earned it for serving in his home country - Newfoundland. How? He joined the Canadian Army. Before 1949 Newfoundland was a British Colony, and therefore "overseas service".

The Order of the Bath, perhaps?

If it were a Danish ship that was rescued?

Three Singhos were awarded the Mercantile Marine Medal; http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results.asp?searchtype=browserefine&query=last_name%3dsingho&catid=45&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=* Possibly one one of these also served in the I.W.T.

It also shows that sometimes playing a hunch pays off.

Not really. Newfoundland only joined Canada in 1949, in a very close (and some allege rigged) plebiscite. Even to other Maritimers Torontonians are regarded as "westerners". Joey Smallwood expropriated my wife's family's farm to build the Confederation Buildings. :violent: