Michael Johnson

I think it is Dunsterville's book where he relates being approached by a retired soldier who needed to have his pension form signed off as proof that he was still alive. "Stalky" signed and dated the form. A week later the pensioner came back glumly. "You signed this as November - they want proof that I was alive in October!" Bureaucracy is a marvellous thing.

Also possibly wounded before Kut, and either discharged or posted to another linked regiment. Can't remember offhand the 110th's linked regiments.

See? I told you I thought there was a numeral missing!

Maybe Chris could enlighten us as to how long it took the South African government to distribute its medals. Or any Aussie member have data on their government?

Looks like it went to a dealer. I wonder if he intends to restore it (at least a proper suspender), or just flog it again.

Very nice, bear. The style is very similar to ones we have in the family from the same period.

Thanks, Geoff, but I have the complete CGS Medal rolls in book form. Unfortunately my medal was brooch-mounted at one time. It has had a suspender and bar added, but it isn't very pretty.

A Gazette search on "Alaouite" turns up only 10 - all men.

I'm used to seeing IGS 1908 medals with impossible clasps to unit, but the chances of a 4th Hussars QSA being in an Indian market are pretty slim. If it was just a case of putting a suspender on a disk only medal, I would think something WWII would be cheaper and closer to the original. Beats me.

A closer look makes me think the suspender is a copy as well - doesn't look like it swivels.

"Shut up and keep swimming!"

"Let's see. We turned right at Pietermaaritzburg, and just kept going..."

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/407M-SOUTH-AFRICA-GS...1QQcmdZViewItem Can't be any rarer than this: A Queen's South Africa to the 4th Hussars, scroll suspender and clasp NorthWest Frontier 1908. Dear me, all the colonies look alike. You've seen one colonial expedition you've seen them all. (And yet Mausers captured in South Africa were sent to the Northwest Frontier. If stolen, government ammuintion would be useless.)

A quote from "Troublous Times in Canada" Here is a link to the full text: http://www.canadiangenealogy.net/fenian-raids-1866-1870.htm I have the medal to Pte. P.E. Noverre, Queen's Own Rifles, who was at Ridgeway. He was one of the author's sources for the battle, and tells of two incidents:

There are 1 Pnr. James Farrell, 4 Pnr. Joseph Farrell, and probably some Johns as well.

Tony, I'll have to dig out his file, but the notation for the EM is definitely mid 30s, as I was speculating whether he would have received a GVR or GVIR issue. I believe Bill was an original with 10 Sqn., (raised 1932 - now 400 Squadron). If he was awarded the Medal in error, one would think there would be a corresponding entry cancelling it. And he definitely had the ribbon at one point.

There are certain similarities between lacrosse and field hockey as played by women. Both are blood sports. I was at law school with some of the latter, and I would not have wanted to tangle with them.

I have a bit of a puzzler. Years ago my aunt gave me her husband's medals: CVSM, War Medal, 1953 Coronation, and Canada Decoration, GVIR issue. Later I applied for his service record, and was somewhat astonished to see that he was entitled to an Efficiency Medal, back in the 1930s, when he was in an Auxiliary Squadron of the RCAF. He volunteered for the Active Force RCAF in 1939 (new number) and post-war joined the Regular RCAF (new number again). He was killed in an accident while on leave shortly before he would have retired. My aunt said she remembered a green and yellow ribbon, but knew nothing about another medal. Now as I recall, the date for the EM was 1934, which meant that his previous service with the Queen's York Rangers (Militia) must have been counted. Here's the problem - on one set of enlistment papers he shows the QYR, but on a second it is modified by "Cadets". He was born in 1908, so unless he joined the Militia aged 14, he could not have had enough service to qualify for the EM in 1934. I'm sure Cadet service wouldn't count. But his CD suggests that they counted his service from 1939 - otherwise he would have qualified for the EM when he had 12 years in, and then he would have either been working on a 10 year clasp to the EM or the CD. He would have had enough time to qualify for both medals.

A quick search indicates that a strapper is a junior stablehand. "Strapping" is also a form of horse grooming.

The ribbon is correct. It was resurrected when the Croix de Guerre was instituted during the First War. Lots more information here: http://www.stehelene.org/php/accueil.php?lang=en

I suspect that the number of Maltese who survived until 1848 to claim their MGS was very small, especially when it was for an 1800 campaign. The majority of the claims for the MGS were for Peninsular War actions, especially the later ones. A rare medal indeed.

Here's a link to show where the family name exists: http://www.linternaute.com/femmes/nom-de-f...3/squivee.shtml

It's not him. He's an R.E. discharged at home valvular disease of the heart.

That's the 5th Regiment Royal Highlanders of Canada, the militia regiment which raised the 13th, 42nd, and 73rd Bns CEF, and doubtless others as well. Wilson probably served with either the 13th or 73rd, which were part of the Canadian Corps.

Lots of us up in Northumberland! He might even be my cousin. My great-great-great grandfather was Thomas Johnson, his son was John Johnson, his son was Thomas Johnson, his son was John Johnson, his son (my father) was John Thomas Johnson, and my elder brother is John as well. When my son was born I said no way - and he's Sean Johnson (my wife's roots are Irish). A beautiful group.