Michael Johnson

He is mentioned here: http://www.west-point.org/family/japanese-pow/Bowen_AM.htm which provides some more detail.

I believe my mother told me that these were sold to raise money for soldiers' comforts, orphans, etc. I have one grandfather brought home with a silver 75 mm cannon, marked on the back "Vengeur de 1914-15". Some of the medls were designed by Lalique.

And it beats what my company will offer me on my 20th (3 years to go). This site http://nom-de-famille.linternaute.com/nom/ is handy for getting an idea where a French recipient may have lived.

Should have studied at Chandernagore.

If I had the dimensions, I might be more certain, but I think it is a gas mask case, for the "Light" pattern respirator introduced, oddly enough, about 1943. Does it look like this? http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki-...=Image:Resp.jpg

http://www.france-phaleristique.com/accueil.htm I have found this to be an excellent reference source.

SInce the medal, if ever mounted, would have been taken down in 1914 it may have become separated long ago.

I'm at work, but I seem to recall that Magor's book on the Africa General Service Medal does mention the award to some Germans. Whether he is mentioned by name will have to wait until I'm home again.

Here's a good bird's-eye view. http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&am...mp;t=k&om=0 The white polygon to the left is the Cross of Sacrifice.

I'd mount them straight across, so they all can be seen.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=2717403 Commonwealth War Graves gives a slightly later date. It appears he was killed in a training accident. Ironic that he was taken off ops, probably as a break, and sent as an instructor. Wouldn't be too far to go over to Glamorganshire, or perhaps some Gentleman lives close by? Interestingly enough, the grave next to his, and with the same date of death, is that of an Aircraftswoman http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=2717411 Since there are 53 burials, his grave should be about halfway back. I can't locate a cemetery map, but I think C. 25 is the the right-end grave in the fourth row (by the stone wall). There are three rows of six, and the fourth row contains a foreign grave, which wouldn't be counted in the numbering. Llantwit Major Cemetery

Just a guess, but Light, Land and Light, Air (dunno where the s comes in).

I thought I'd drop a link to a fascinating group currently on eBay. The recipent served both France and Canada in the Second World War. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1137...mp;#entry109938

In my experience these are often lost over the years, since the bar's backstrap is not continuous - only about 5mm each side to keep it on the ribbon. The Canadian order may very well mean that theory 2 is the correct one. Of course he might have emigrated, but how likely is it that he would have remounted his medals?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/WWII-CANADIAN-FRANCE-LO...1QQcmdZViewItem If this group is genuine there is quite a story there. I think it is possible that the recipient left France after 1940, probably to the U.S., and thence to Canada where he joined up. But the presence of La M?daille comm?morative des Services Volontaires dans la France Libre suggests that he must have had some Free French service. Perhaps he was attached to a Canadian unit as an interpreter. Or he may have been a Canadian working in France in 1940 who enlisted in the French Army (hence the Croix de Combatant Volontaire) and later joined the Canadian Army after the invasion. Pity there is no documentation.

Could one of the awards be for the Northwest Frontier, since he has an IGS 1908-35?

Quite apart from the fact that he doesn't have a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal ribbon.

Interestingly enough among my grandfather Darte's books was "Albert, Roi des Belges". I don't know whether they kept up any contact with their Belgian cousins after they moved to France about 225 years ago. They did not get French citizenship until much later.

Fascinating. I found two entries who are probably remote cousins of mine. Darn! does this mean I have to start collecting Belgian as well?

As I recall, the Revell 1/32nd AVG P40E had Chinese markings of about that size and shade.

Thierry, Also the British War Medal. Awarded to interpreters, many of whom came from the French Army. My grandfather was one, but never applied for the medal. You can fins these by using the National Archives Medal Index Cards, and including French as a search term.

Small. Seriously, I think the experts (I'm not one) will need to see more detail.

Somewhere in Brazil's archives there must be a record of the purchase order.

That is his service number. The Battalion number should be somewhere near the "Corps" box. This is the National Archives guide to the Cards Medal Index Cards. Unfortunately none of the examples given are for Infantry regiments. I'm at work and don't seem to have any saved on this computer. It should be a number 1-8: 2 East Kent Regt., 8 East Kent Regt. Can you post a link to the card? Or what is the exact naming on the back of the Star?

It is well worth it. If I know his battalion number I can give you a better idea where his battalion fought. This information should be on the card. It should also tell you when he first entered a theatre of war, which was important to determine eligibility for the 1914 or 1914-15 Stars. His War Service Badge may also be shown. Meanwhile this page is a good overview of the service of The Buffs 1914-18.