Michael Johnson

Magor certainly lists Somali Levies for the Somaliland 1901 clasp, and there would be no reason to assume that they would have been disbanded given the local situation. Overseas Expeditions from India shows that two corps of Somali Irregulars of 500 men each were raised. Interestingly, there was also a unit called the Gadabursi Horse - right initials, just the wrong way around.

Very nice. The uniforms do indeed look like the period Canadian bush jacket and pants.

Tempest was a Port Hope boy. You need a 46th Battalion plate. I have an un-named NW Canada Medal on its original ribbon. Although it is in a Toronto jeweller's box, it came out of Madoc Ontario, so is presumably 49th Battalion.

As I recall, the Midland Battalion was made up of contingents from the following Militia Battalions: 15th Argyll - Belleville (H Coy.) 45th Durham (C Coy.) 46th (two companies - Millbrook and Port Hope E Coy.) 47th Frontenac 49th Hastings and Prince Edward (G Coy?) 57th Peterborough

I can see a few problems. The Memorial Cross was designed to be worn by the wife/mother of the deceased. The new medal will be worn by the wounded, but can it be worn for a fatality in the same way? How many get awarded? Do the wife and mother each get one? What if you are awarded one for a wound, and subsequently die from the wound (maybe years later)? Do three medals get issued?

Subject to seeing the naming, definitely Mountain Artillery Training Centre. Formed 1920 at Dehra Dun, moved to Lucknow in 1921, then to Amballa in 1928, where it remained. It was active through the Second War.

Might it be "Mountain Artillery Training Centre"? I think I ran across this abbreviation 20+ years ago. Must check the Indian Artillery history and "Tales of the Mountain Gunners". Thought so. See here.

PPR might Policia [de] Puerto Rico

Geoff's Search Engine will give you a list: http://www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search14-21.php Choose 51st Sikhs from the unit dropdown menu. I think there are about 367 names. These link to the CWGC records.

I've kept records of the medals that have passed through my hands. And while it can't produce instant hits, people can know that that particular medal survived (especially important if it's a silver medal). I'll try to post them as I get time.

According to Gordon, this combination is correct for the second contingent of the 21st Coy. I.Y.

The New Zealand site has links to the actual Warrants: http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/h/index.html

There were special rules for the last six months: "(vii) The last six months In the case of persons in operational service on the 8th May, 1945, that is to say, at the end of active hostilities in Europe, the Italy and France and Germany Stars will be granted by virtue of entry into a theatre of operations, and the prior six or two months service requirement will not apply. A similar waiving of the prior service requirement will extend to the Atlantic and Air Crew Europe Stars. The actual service requirement for the Atlantic Star will also be reduced to entry into operational service, and a similar provision will apply to air crew in relation to the Air Crew Europe Star. The 1939-45 Star will not be awarded in any of these cases in which operational service amounts to less than six or two months respectively." Someone wasn't thinking, of course, since the Air Crew Europe Star cut-off was June 6, 1944. Taken from the official HMSO statement of qualifications on Northeast Medals site: http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishgu...ars_defence.htm Bookmark for future reference.

Agreed, I always find groups to those late reinforcements to the 1st and 5th Canadian Divisions in Italy very peculiar looking. I have an Atlantic Star, CVSM and clasp, WM group. Most likely Navy, since aircrew would only have require two months to qualify for the 1939-45 Star, instead of six. But he could have been RCAF flying out of Newfoundland, since it was "overseas" since it wasn't part of Canada. Now if he's been an NRMA reinforcement it would have been even stranger looking, as it would lack the CVSM. I have a group to the HLI of C that does - he was one of 83 fatalities suffered by "Zombies" posted to Europe.

One can display mount medals so that it is clear that they aren't "as worn", however it does suggest same legitimacy. Late (posthumous) claims are a problem. My aunt gave me her husband's medals - CVSM, WM, 1953 Coronation, GVIR CD. When I got his service record, it showed an Efficiency Medal. Then since he had done a Cold War spell at Gros Tenquin with the R.C.A.F., I had her apply for the Special Service Medal with NATO clasp. His group is as mounted and worn. My aunt remembered a green ribbon on his uniform, but not a medal. I have a name-erased Efficiency which I keep with the group and loose SSM. But I also had a miniature group made up to show his full entitlement. The Efficiency Medal is a puzzle. It is clearly on his record with AFRO number. Service-wise it is a little problematical, as it depend how much of his service with the York Rangers was allowable, as one set of enlistment papers lists "Cadets", which I doubt counted. Still there is no entry removing the award on his papers. He died while still in service, so I don't think he monkeyed with his group.

Yes. Few understood that with a few exceptions, the 1939-45 Star was not an automatic award for being in a war zone. That being said, six months seems an excessively long qualification period, especially for the Navy, which couldn't qualify for any other Stars until it had been earned.

The policy of awarding bars to the Second War Stars has also led to "incorrect" groups. I've seen worn Navy/Merchant Navy groups with both the Atlantic and France and Germany Stars up.

I know that Pte. J.O. Lewis had Volunteer service. I once had a lovely group with an IGS 1854, IGS 1895, QSA, KSA, BWM, VM. The first four were to the KRRC, the pair to the 75th Can. Inf. I knew the KRRC medals were renamed as the first two were impressed, not script. When I got his papers, it turned out he was entitled to every last medal and every clasp. My RCAF chap couldn't have qualified for the Star.

I'm sure we've all bought groups which on subsequent research turned out to have added medals/bars. Now I'm not talking about something added by a dealer, I'm talking about medals the veteran actually wore. I've got two currently in my collection: A perfectly legitimate BWM, VM pair to the Canadian Forestry Corps, but mounted separately a re-named QSA, KSA pair to the same man in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, complete with bogus regimental number (confirmed as not on the KFS medal roll). Moving up in time, a 1939-45 Star, CVSM and bar, WM, UNEF, CD combination, courtmounted and plated. I bought it because that combination could indicate a Dieppe veteran. Unfortunately his service record shows that he was RCAF in Canada during the Second War, enlisting in the R.C.O.C. postwar. Both would be hard to sell as they stand. The CFC pair would sell, and I could list the SA pair separately. The other group would need to be taken apart and remounted minus the Star. But I hesitate to do so, because that's part of the group's history.

Didn't I read somewhere that those to the 9th Gorkhas were melted down and cast into a bell for the Regimental Centre?

Also, clicking on the "Lo-Fi Version" label at the bottom of the screen will give you black text on a white background. The higher contrast may be more readable.

David, if you are using Internet Explorer, you can increase your text size by selecting: View, Text Size, and Larger or Largest. Most browsers default to about Medium.

Wired date clasps are not unusual, as they were sent after the other clasps, and it was up to the recipient to attach them.

Gordon's (aka British Battles and Medals) used to have a chart of the usual medal entitlements of the IY. Some poking around seems to indicate that the 21st did not qualify for Transvaal. The fact that he has the South Africa 1902 clasp may indicate a transfer to another unit.

I have nothing against non-unique names. Now you have six men to research. I calls it value for your money. And if you ever find medals to one of the six (assuming the plaque doesn't accompany them), you can put them together without fear of contradiction.