Michael Johnson

"America" can include Canada as in "British North America". They were here in the 1850s, but were doubtless recalled for the Crimean War: http://www.cmhg.gc.ca/cmh/en/image_382.asp?page_id=442

Looks like he had a fever (not unknown after vaccinations). He may have been trying to cool himself off.

His pension papers are on Ancestry. Looks like he served with the 2nd Bn. and was wounded 21 August 1915. Born 1894 if you want to do census searches. See also http://www.glosters.org.uk/soldier/14756 Can't see him on the 1901 census. Born Cheltenham Glos. But the plot thickens. There is a death entry for a Reginald F. Greenslade (same age) in Cheltenham last quarter 1918. Was he an influenza victim?

The French government has put the JMOs (the equivalent of War Diaries) online at the Memoire des Hommes website. You have to drill down a bit through the menus to find the regimental level units. Since we don't know his battalion or company it may be a matter of working through each one. I've found an incredible amount on my great uncle (and I suspect that as Captain he was probably responsible for filling out the JMO - certainly the handwriting changes just after he was wouned). It lists killed and wounded. Unfortunately, since it is handwriting there is no search facility for names.

You might try this site: http://www.i-m-l.com/

His wound was not serious - slight injury to the shoulder blade, and a month later he was back with his company.

I think it's the Iron Gate Dam, a joint Roumanian -Yugoslavian project.

Which is why I added the link. The first one or two digits is the regiment, the others his regimental number. ۱٠ would be the 10th Regiment

Not much to go on, but he assigned his land scrip to a George Skinner: http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archive...br_list=1474177 No Abram Fraser listed in the 1881 Census, but he might be "Abraham". Ages aren't always precise. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databas...amp;interval=20

What's the "naming" on the 7 clasp Khedive's Sudan? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Arabic_numerals-en.svg

His helmet:

Given the delay in even "immediate awards" in the British and Commonwealth armies, it is interesting to note that Uncle Marcel got his Croix de Guerre citation nine days after his action. And this was at the second highest level (Corps d'Arm?e).

Thanks to Jean-Luc Dron, the history of the 3rd Regiment of Engineers is online: http://tableaudhonneur.free.fr/3eRG.pdf If you PM me your grandfather's name, I can have a look.

Here's a clearer picture of the gas mask. That's fascinating information, as I don't have much knowledge of European masks and filters. I found a spare lense under the bottom divider of the can - it appears that this was standard practice (not surprisingly).

Bison, which company of the 3e G?nie was he with? My great uncle was a Capitaine in the 2/13e, and was wounded at Verdun as well, june 14, 1916. See my latest post.

Lately, after some years of hitting my head against brick walls and dead ends, I received a windfall of information on my great uncle. The regimental history revealed that he was wounded at Verdun, during the defence of Fleury-devant-Douaumont in June 1916. His service papers gave the date - June 14, 1916, and the fact that he was awarded the Croix de Guerre with ?toile en vermeil shortly after. It also showed that he was awarded the L?gion d'honneur (Chevalier) in 1933. He even served one week in 1940, although he would have been almost 56 then. More here. And this was not long after I bought the memorial scroll, Medaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre to Soldat DANIELO of the 348th Infantry, who was killed nearby June 8th. They were both in the 52nd Reserve Division.

Thanks to Gilles Rolland on the Pages1418 Forum, I now have the following information. Uncle Marcel was awarded the Croix de Guerre with gilt star July 23, 1916, for his actions June 14, 1916 at Fleury-devant-Douaument (Verdun). He was with company 2/13th of the 3rd Regiment of ENgineers. He was on reconnaissance, and was wounded in the shoulder blade by a shell exploding (I'm sure it was at this time his watch got beat up). Citation: An officer whose calm and courage are up to any test, inspiring confidence in everyone. Always in the breach at the defence of a village. Was wounded in the course of a reconnaisance in the front line, but continued his mission until his strength gave out. Returning to his post, he handed over command of the company to his Lieutenant. By November at the latest, he was back with his company. In 1933 he was awarded the Legion of Honor.

1974. At Ed Denby's store in Toronto.

I bought my first Khedive's Star for $12 - and it was 1884-6. First Second Afghan Medal to the 5th, $27. Same store I could have bought a Mannlicher-Berthier rifle with bayonet and scabbard, for $65.00 All prices Canadian dollars.

I think we can rule out the Camel Corps. Surely personnel seconded to such a unit would have been from Indian cavalry or similar units, and would have been Sowars? The princely state of Hyderabad did recruit Arab mercenaries. Could that be the "H"?

You don't feel used, Ed? Or you don't feel you're in the 21st century? I understand - sometimes I feel I'm on the Somme or at Verdun, depending on which side of my family is uppermost at the time.

Yilderim, I'm not sure that the Yugoslavian Air Force provided any personnel. Air support for both the UNEF and UNYOM missions was provided by the Royal Canadian Air Force - DHC Otters, Dakotas, and later the DHC Caribou.

Don't worry, Ed, you still are in the 21st century! :D

Sepoy is a corruption of the Persian "sipahi", also used by the French "Spahis".

Although I have seen "Private" on some medals to Madras units, pre-1903.