Michael Johnson

Not quite. The Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps also wore a black cap badge.

It was an "I was there" medal. The joker is that there are three diffrent versions Turkish Crimea Medal Many of the British medals were lost en route, so many received one of the other versions, primarily the Sardinian. Short of finding the actual medal named, it would be impossible to tell which he received (although doubtless there is some pundit who can declare that "I've never seen anything but a Sardinian to the __th Foot!")

You've never dealt with Quartermasters? "Yes, but if I issue you that, there'll be a gap in my shelf! I'll only have ninety-nine left, and I like round numbers!"

The usual frontier policing. Google "Fakir of Ipi" for the details. Or read John Masters's "Bugles and a Tiger" which gives a good view of his services with the 4th Gurkha Rifles in that campaign. "Prender's Progress" covers the same period (Prendergast even mentions Masters). Readily available from Abebooks at reasonable prices, and a good read. My last IGS '36 is in this group: Herbert Waring OBE

I've always liked this medal. It is a fruitful source for further research, as most recipients went on to serve in the Second World War. I have found several Singapore casualties, and an I.O.M. winner for Italy (I foolishly parted with that one). I used to have to go through my paper copies of the Singapore Memorial Registers - collectors today don't know how lucky they are!

Lucky! Some years ago my wife asked me to go into an antique store as they "had some badges". I came away with a Canadian Militia pith helmet (admittedly in rough shape) with a beautiful 1908 Star plate to the 31st Battalion. For $35! I just wish I'd bought the Gras bayonet as well.

I'll have to scan my pair (L.S.G.C.) to the 1st "Scented Minstrel Horse". I was responsible for the updates on some of the I.G.S. and G.S.M. clasps in the last edition of Gordons, and added the C.I.H. for the Samana clasp.

I agree with you Ed, but name-erases WWI medals are a fact of life, and I doubt that one would command a higher price than a "native" named one.

There are other options: There are replicas of almost all British medals now. Buy one of these and have it named (I believe some of the suppliers even offer this service). Name-erased medals exist. Here you have the advantage of an original, but you aren't destroying anything that hasn't already been destroyed.

How should I put this? I find her - arresting

Here's my reasoning. This combination is possible without any war service, representing 30 years' service. But there were two major wars in this period. I've done my best with the MICs, but Jones is too common a name. But he wasn't with the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. He may have stayed at his job on the railway 1914-18 and not qualified for any medals. If he was Indian-domiciled (and many of the railwaymen were Eurasians), the only way he could qualify would be to leave India (unlike the Territorials, who got the BWM for overseas service). The situation 1939-45 is different. The Auxiliary Forces, India were embodied as the Defence of India Corps, and the railways were in line for at least the 1939-45 Star and War Medal. And I believe the BUrma Star was actually awarded for a short period for service in East Bengal.

[attachmentid=36190] Here's an Indian Volunteer group - medals bought from three separate dealers! It's almost certain he's missing some Second War medals, but I'm not so sure about the First War. J.E.R. Jones was with the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Regiment, both 1st and 2nd Battalions. The Jubilee is engraved.

563 MICs for Broadhurst 23 Canadians (not all of whom may have made it overseas)

Well, if everyone who claimed to have been in the GPO received a medal there must be several hundred thousand of them out there (and the GPO must have occupied half of Dublin).

No, the plain green is correct for the Volunteer Long Service Medal. The fact that it is un-named is not a cause for concern, as they were issued un-named to British Volunteer units, although some units had them privately named. The VLSM continued to be issued in India until the introduction of the Efficiency Medal, and so they will be found with EVIIR and GVR obverses. In the U.K. it was superceded when the Volunteers became the Territorial Army in 1908. In the Dominions it was superceded by the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, also on the green ribbon.

Very high quality minis, then; I thought they were full-sized as well. And finding a named miniature like the QSA is quite uncommon, which is another reason we thought they were full-sized.

From what you say, I think I'm right, but check the "d" letter against this site Hallmarks "d" is the letter for 1919.

Since this is an early award it can be dated by checking out the hallmark against any standard silver guide. It probably will be 1919.

It's interesting that FEs went from a half-wing during the Second War to a full, after. Probably it was because the FEs ended up pulling so much second pilot time.

Larry, I served my time in the ranks - two summers at Old Fort York - that's why I got my Scouting position - I knew the drill! Peter and I have known each other since 1975 at university - he's my best friend. If you think we slag each other now, you should see some of the letters we sent each other back then.

There was a 166th (Newfoundland) Battery. R.A., but I don't think that they were connected with the Newfoundland Regt. The 166th served in Italy, and was part of one of the South African divisions for at least part of its service. (as usual the Sergeants don't have all the information ) Michael Johnson Lieutenant, 2nd Coy., Royal Newfoundland Regiment Scout Brigade of Fort George I'm down there with the Scouts each September (my avatar is me marching down the main street of NOL), so I'm interested in the pics as well.

While I can't say that there were floods, I seem to recall a fair number of Falklands medals being flogged shortly after issue. I think there were even some lists of "missing" medals published in Coin and Medal News.

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[attachmentid=35326] Next a plaque for UNFICYP in 1981 to Sgt. JHR (Ray) Morin. What is nice is that I have an UNDOF plaque to him for 1986-87, autographed by his mates - and one of them deals on eBay (I've gotten some nice peacekeeping items from him.) He sent me Morin's picture: [attachmentid=35327]

I have only two Videsh Seva Medals: Bar UAR to 9th Dogra (Rakhsha Medal, Videsh Seva, UNEF) Bar Congo to 3/1 Gorkha Rifles (who won a Param Vir Chakra there - Capt. Gurbachan Singh Salaria - posthumous). About 20 years ago Mark Sellar had a few groups and singles, but they were "common" bars.