Michael Johnson

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.

I think the Burma Star Association arose out of the 14th Army's perception that it was "The Forgotten Army" due to lack of press attention. The Association still exists. http://www.burmastar.org.uk/

It seems to be a 20th Indian Division patch, but I've never sen a brassard like this one.

And here is his commemoration information. CWGC

Well, for starters, the Royal Navy were issued quite a few, so service off South Africa, for one. Service in Natal or Rhodesia after May 17, 1900 did not qualify for either of those clasps.

If Gordon is correct, the 52nd were in Kurdistan in both 1919 and 1923. At the latter date they would have been the 2-12th.

I'm not so sure that he isn't entitled to the GSM "S E Asia 1945-46". The 4/17th were in Vietnam. I have one such medal to the 4/17th, with his medal entitlement and a photo. He isn't entitled to the India Service Medal.

The classic account is Haldane's "The Insurrection in Mesopotamia" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Insurrection-Mesop...e/dp/1855710218 Reprinted, but now looks like it's out of print again. Disasters like Hillah, where the Manchesters took heavy casualties (as did other units - I once had a Kurdistan Iraq GSM to one of the 45th Sikhs who was killed there - another of the bad choices I've made in selling medals) doubtless did not help with recruiting.

Yes, "ferrets" was the general kriegie nickname for the Abwehr specialists who searched for tunnels.

Military surgeons would show R.A.M.C. Perhaps a political officer of some sort. NGOs such as the Salvation Army, Y.M.C.A. etc would probably include the organization, but since I don't think I've ever seen one, I can't verify this.

Military Works Service

Not necessarily a fatality. Invalided out with wounds, perhaps. I have a vague memory from Donovan Jackson that one company of the 41st were quarantined in Egypt due to mumps or some such, just long enough for them to miss the 1914 Star. I used to own a 1914-15 Star to a Jemadar in the 41st.

Drool. Especially the 41st Dogra trio. Probably a casualty, as they qualified for the IGS 1908.

"Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp. Or what's a heaven for?" Robert Browning

You were saying, Larry?

Don't forget The Order of the Crown of India. At the very least it is still held by Her Majesty the Queen.

"Memory like a sieve! Be forgetting the names of me hounds next!" Un-named Yeomanry Colonel, Iraq 1941.

Ed, I'm fairly sure that I've seen a GSM "Palestine 1945-48" to the Patiala Lancers. In fact I think I added that unit in my update to the previous edition of Gordon's.

During the Second World War my father was a Lieutenant in the reserve battalion of The Ontario Regiment. One of his duties was to stop the Honorary Colonel Sam McLaughlin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_McLaughlin before he went on parade, and tweak his Armoured Corps beret off to the proper side. Sam never learned how to wear a beret.

Creation of new categories seems to be a response to a certain level of posts. I haven't counted, or anything, but my impression is that there have been more posts on Belgian medals than on Netherlands ones.

Here's a good link that tells what the 784th were doing March 3, 1945. Impressive. http://www.784th.com/

When I was growing up just about every military vehicle I saw in Toronto had one of these on the door. I have an unused decal (peel and stick) in my collection.