Michael Johnson

Mixed crews were not uncommon. I have a group to 434 Sqn. where two of the crew were R.A.F.V.R. See Rich Allenby's excellent write-up of the crash of Halifax LL178 at http://www.allenby.info/aircraft/planes/44/kep2.html

If the naming is impressed, rather than engraved, I'm told that an xray will show a ghost image of the naming due to the incresed density of metal beneath the letters. A researcher at Kew should be able to find your man. One way would be to check medal rolls for the North Staffs. in the late Victorian period, but faster would probably a muster roll search, followed by a search for soldier's papers.

As I recall, it was MBEs that they received, leading to a number of previous recipients returning theirs in protest.

My last example. Sepoy Bagga Singh of the Bhopal Bn. Engraved in running script as for the India General Service Medal. An interesting medal in that at this time the Bopeeps were a local corps, not part of the regular Indian Army. Nevertheless their level of efficiency was such that they included in the Field Force. The suspension is probably a bazaar replacement, but the condition is better than average.

For the Second Afghan to British units it is not unusual; I've had a number named in that style. 40B/540 PTE H. WEBB 67th FOOT, with dots under the superscript TE in Pte and TH in 67TH

Are you trying to tell us there's too much Saxon violence?

Government bureaucracy is a fearsome thing. L.C. Dunsterville (Kipling's "Stalky") has a marvellous story of being asked by a pensioner to certify that he was still alive, so he could claim his pension. Dunsterville wrote out a dated statement, that as of June 18** retired Lieutenant Blank was alive, and he could certify to this. A month or so later, the pensioner returned. "I'm afraid your letter is no good for my purposes. They need to know that I was alive last March."

And you better not be a "Chug-a-lug" drinker! Stomach acid probably isn't good for medals.

Please keep us posted, especially with any new address.

Any chance of finding one at a Garaj sale?

Bengal or Bombay Engineer Group.

No, lots of medals were issued without clasps, especially to the Navy - the British clasps were Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol. There was an unoffical Fench clasp "Mer d'Azoff".

Along with Canada, India was heavily committed to peacekeeping operations. UNEF and the Congo come to mind. The Indians suffered casualties in both - the former when caught by the start of the Six Day War in 1967, and of course they were heavily engaged in combat in the Congo. I have two of these medals in my collection: a sepoy in the 9th Dogra for UNEF, and a Gorkha in 3/1st Gorkha Rifles for Congo (where Capt. G.S. Salaria won a posthumous Param Vir Chakra). A good summary and roll of honour is here: http://indianarmy.nic.in/arunpk1.htm Sepoy Kikar Singh, Dogra Regiment

All courage is not on the battlefield.

Thanks. Actually, we have no information (yet) about the family that stayed behind. All that area is now Poland, and I haven't followed up there.

My wife's grandfather served 1914-1919 in the 15th London Regiment, and was wounded several times. His father was an immigrant, who came to England from kr. Frankenstein in Lower Silesia, and became a British citizen. My question for the Imperial German experts is what regiments recruited in Lower Silesia, and did they serve on the Western Front? In simpler terms, was Bill shoooting at his cousins?

India has always been in the Commonwealth. Pakistan withdrew after the Commonwealth recognized Bangladesh in 1972, but rejoined in 1989, only to be suspended in 1999 (until 2004) following a military coup.

Brit coppers never say " 'ere, 'ere" Everyone knows the line is: "'Ullo, 'ullo, 'ullo. Wot's all this, then?"

Here's one of them. If I read it correctly he has the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm, the Yser Medal, the Medaille Militaire 2nd Cl. (Art 4), Victory Medal and Commemorative Medal with 5 Front stripes and 1 wound stripe.

Yes, Canada has reinstitituted the Wound Stripe. Here are the Regs. http://www.dnd.ca/hr/instructions/engraph/..._admhrmil_e.asp

I make it ten bodies jammed in there!

But very useful. Add a number above it and a "Canada" below it, and you've got instant battalion identification. The lack of a battalion numeral above seems to confirm that he is wearing a specialized shoulder with battalion number as well as Canada.

I'd advise you all to send any toonies to me, just to be on the safe side, you know.

Paris may be his surname (not an uncommon one in France: http://nom-de-famille.linternaute.com/nom/166910/paris.shtml ), and Au the first letters of his christian name (Auguste). The 2e Grenadiers were in the Division de la Garde Imp?riale, 2e Brigade, Corps d'arm?e de reserve. This site gives several recipients: http://www.military-photos.com/orient.htm Perhaps the 50 is a company number?

I had a Special Constabulary Medal, it had two ranks, but no name: Marshall Prince must have been the head of the organization. I had a QSA to the RHA, Bombardier Trickey - If I'd been his Sergeant I would have kept my eye on him.