Michael Johnson

I've never owned a Waterloo or MGS (even 30 years ago they were out of my league). I do regret passing up a KGL Waterloo, since for many years I worked with Fred von Ompteda, a direct descendant of the Col. von Ompteda commanding the KGL at Waterloo, where he was killed leading the 5th Bn.

"Hawai Sepoy" which one Indian-published book I have spells "Hawaii Sepoy" which conjures up visions of some interesting uniforms.

The CBE is also a beautiful piece, especially on the first pattern ribbon.

The campaign in Italy was in my opinion the toughest of all the European campaigns. I have the honour of knowing a former university professor who served through it as a Lieutenant with the Perth Regiment.

I would think 2nd Regiment of Infantry, but Chasseurs, Genie and Artillery are all possible. Do his trousers look to be a different colour?

My understanding is that Second War servicemen retained their serial number with the S added if they re-enlisted for Korea. A check of his service record will almost certainly show WWII service.

http://www.coastguardsofyesteryear.org/art...?article_id=257 This suggests that it had to be "Good" or better to qualify.

This is one of the most cherished American myths of the 19th century. Judging from things like regiments present, I don't think that there is any proof that Britain had any designs on reconquest. Yes, implementation of the peace treaty was slow, as far as withdrawing British garrisons from land that was ceded to the U.S. but would they have been withdrawn at all if Britain had planned a reconquest. The characterization of the War of 1812 as "The Second War of Independence" ignores the fact that it was the U.S. that commenced hostilities, using the justification of interference with American shipping.

The Americans did attempt to export the Revolution to Canada, but found no takers in French Quebec. Memories of the Seven Years War were still fresh, and the Quebecois preferred the British way of dealing with their religion and culture to what a Protestant (and even Puritan) 13 colonies might have in mind.

The Italie Medal was created in 1953 to replace clasp to the Commemorative Medal. Of course that's not to say that those who had the clasp took it off when they received the medal.

A good point, Sudanese. It's not my strongest period, but I think the sore point with the colonists was that their rights as Englishmen (Scotsmen, etc.) were not being respected. It was a fratricidal war, and although the histories (other than the Canadian ones) downplay it, there were many Americans who remained loyal to the Crown, and many suffered greatly because of it.

Try the French Army, where my grandfather, a metallurgical engineer, and after he became a Canadian citizen a Justice of the Peace, was an Adjutant - equivalent to a Warrant Officer.

That's what I thought too, Ed.

Back when I was a Cub Leader there were moms who tried to hot glue badges onto their sons' sashes. Never held for very long.

Since my mother's family is French, we've had some dealings with bureaucracy. My grandfather died in Canada in 1944, and there is a file in Ottawa under Alien Property, since he left some bequests to his family. There is a story that my mother forwarded some legal papers to a member of her firm serving in France with the Canadian Army to get the necessary signatures. Another time, one of my father's partners notarized some papers, but the consulate refused to accept them. He then got some ribbon and sealing wax, and they went right through.

Peter, if memory serves (a rather dubious assumption) it was the 46th Regiment. http://www.vintageviews.org/vv-ny/Pt/cards/t021.html I remember reading that in "Regiments at a Glance" which is quite possibly the oldest book I have left from my childhood. The British Army was still in its "Brigade" organization when it was written. I believe the illustrations still show Lee-Enfield No. IVs.

As has been said, clasp errors are not uncommon on QSAs. It could even be as simple as the Mint running short on battle clasps and awarding the State clasp in lieu.

And I believe the Belgian Brigade Piron also were awarded them.

"Mort Pour La France" is a legal status established in 1915 for those who were killed in the war or died of illness contracted on service. A number of the "Victimes Civiles" I have seen were hostages shot by the Germans.

Of course it's silly. But judging from the number of posts on the French forum it seems to have circulated at least until the 1970s. Thank you for the correction on the significance of the fourragere. In the case of the 3e BILA, 6 to 8 mentions certainly makes clear what kind of soldiers they were.

The fact that the three units were awarded the fourragere in the colours of the Medaille Militaire, Croix de Guerre, and Legion d'Honneur respectively answers that question. Only 20 infantry regiments were awarded the fourragere in the colours of the Legion d'honneur 1914-18.

For services 1914-18 the following regiments won the right to wear the fourrageres: 1e BILA - Colour of the Medaille Militaire 2e BILA - Colour of the Croix de Guerre 3e BILA - Colour of the Legion d'Honneur Interestingly there was a story that the units of the BILA wore a black fourragere, presumably because of their "crimes". There's a discussion here http://www.phaleristique.net/forum/viewtop...hp?=&p=2659 in French, of course.

I know of a case where a young man joined the navy, was convicted of stealing a bag of jewels and toilet items, and was sentenced to 2 years in the BILA. Somehow he never reported, and made off to England, where he married. In 1916 he turned himself in to the French consul. He was sentencd to 2 years for desertion in peacetime (important distinction!) and sent back to the 3e BILA, where he was killed in action. I think the 1-3 Bns BILA served in France.

http://www.k5083.mistral.co.uk/SQ_CODES.HTM

This is probably him: http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/districts.pl...=bmd_1228212042 There is also an Edward Malcolm born in 1890