Michael Johnson

Here's another odd one - three medals: three different dealers. Whether it's all he's entitled to we'll probably never know. 1935 Jubilee Medal - (engraved) Sgt. J.E.R. Jones 1st G.I.P. Reg. A.F.I. Volunteer Long Service - Sjt. J.E.R. Jones 2 Bn. G.I.P. Ry R. A.F.I. Efficiency Medal - S.C.M. J.E.R. Jones 1 G.I.P. Ry. R. A.F.I. I also have an un-named silver prize medal to the 1st G.I.P. R. which may have been associated with him. This combination could represent as much as 30 years service, or as little as 21 years, depending on how many Twofer years of war services he had. I have been unable to locate any medal index card for Jones, and he doesn't appear in the 1919 Indian Army List in the I.A.R.O. so he may not have had Great War service. Since he seems to have transferred from the 2nd to the 1st Bn. it would date his Volunteer L.S,. before 1935. Time enough to earn it on straight service (1917-35). Equally he could have earned the Efficiency as well on straight service (1935-47), but I think it more likely that he had some Second War medals. Since the railways were heavily staffed by Eurasians, it may be that he did not have Great War service. [attachmentid=16416]

No, Assistant Surgeons were Warrant Officers, which is why after 1930 they were no longer listed in the Indian Army List. Assistant Surgeons were the European members. Indians were Sub-Assistant Surgeons. If you were a "real" doctor you were commissioned in to the Indian Medical Service. Both Indians and Europeans held commissions in the I.M.S. As I said the only reason I can see for the replaced suspender is symmetry with his other medals. I had one to Asst. Sgn. A.R. Bell (who entered the same year as Asquith), and it was a non-swivel scroll that it would have taken brute force to break.

One more time with feeling. I would think he is probably entitled to the Bar. I don't even want to think what this would sell for today.

That was the first pattern PPCLI badge. Technically it's a "marguerite", not a "daisy".

Forum It may be another author is on the same track as you.

Do you have this journal? Police History Society Journal Vol.16 (1999) It has an article on Thomas Green. The booklet mentioned on the Great War Forum might still be available. The mailing address for Actel is here

There is, of course, no way to tell whether the epaulettes are original to the tunic. The tailor's label has a 1950 date, if I remember correctly, so the GVIR buttons are correct. And now that I think of it, the name on the label is Colonel Sardar K.S.B. Ahluwalia.

Not a medal, but he may be entitled. I have a dress blue tunic, U.K. tailor. Staff tabs, GVIR buttons. It has bullion Lt. Col. epaulettes of the post 1947 variety (Lions of Ashoka and Star). The name tag is "Lt. Col K.S.B. Ahluwalia". General Chand Das confirmed that there was no regular Indian Army officer by that name and rank. "Ahluwalia" is the family name of the royal family of Kapurthala. In Genealogy I found a fourth son of the Raja - Karamjit Singh. Now the tunic has loops for a medal bar - about 6" apart end to end, and the pocket has loops for a breast star. While I could see a serving officer having a string of medals, you don't find Lt. Cols. with that high a class of an order. So, I'm wondering if I've got a prince's tunic.

2701 A/L/Dfr Ghulam Rasul Khan 9th Horse (Khan only appears on the Star) He is a Duffadar on all the other medals. The I.M.S.M. is almost certainly for Cambrai. I bought this little gem for 80 pounds about 22 years ago.

I have a double IGS pair (54/95) to 2210 Sepoy Hira Singh of the 32nd. I added the Hazara clasp to the Sikkim clasp, since 800 of the unit were present, which means practically everyone, but often wondered about whether he was entitled to a Waziristan 1901, and a Tibet. Since his number would indicate an enlistment about two years earlier than Rur Singh, and maybe more, I think I can safely rule out an IGS 1908. On the other hand there do not seem to be many, if any contact marks on the 1895's right side, so maybe he only had the two medals.

There's quite a story with this group. Five medals, bought from four different sources. I bought the Star, then was told that a shop had "maybe an M.S.M." Then after a time I found the N.G.S. on Gene Ursual's list. Then I kicked myself for getting deeper into a broken group. One evening I was at a friend's and he mentioned s dealer was trying to get hold of me, and was I interested in a pair to an Asistant Surgeon? Assistant Surgeon Asquith, Indian Medical Department. He was on R.I.M.S. Minto for the Persian Gulf. He was still there during the first part of the war, sometimes ashore at telegraph stations in the Gulf. Then France and Belgium to mid 1915. Mesopotamia and Egypt. No sign of an I.G.S. or G.S.M. in his war services (no G.S.M. on his Medal card). On reason I am also sure he doesn't have an I.G.S. is the replacement suspender on his L.S.G.C. At the time he was awarde it, the medal had a non-swivel scroll suspender, and that would have been very difficult to break. My guess is that he wanted it to match his Naval G.S. and B.W.M. The Naval G.S. is renamed, and the rank has been corrected (or perhaps "adjusted" is more correct. to 2nd Cl Asst. Sgn. which he didn't make until the 1920s. Those and the Star are all impressed in the same

I'm too tired to type straight. More later, if I get a chance.

Herbert Waring. Joined the A.S.C. jsu after the First War, transferred to the (R.)I.A.S.C. Commissioned during the Second War in the I.A.O.C., was probably P.o.W. at Singapore. Transferred I.E.M.E. then went to Pakistan on Partition British Service, Special List. Was awarded the O.B.E. as Lt. Col. in what was probably the last Honours list befor Pakistan became a Republic. His substantive rank was Captain. All of his medlas are named. I also have several pewtermugs neamed to him, and an illuminated Address of Honour given by one of the Workshops on his retirement.

Looking at it again, I think he has his pair up. The BWM centre stripe has darkened due to the film used (yellow looks black), and due to the angle the side stripes don't show. There isn't enough light on the Victory ribbon to make any of the colours stand out.

Mata Hari was 41 when she was shot. Mata Hari

That would be the actual roll number (remember that there were over 3,400 Belgian agents).

I wasn't necessarily suggesting that she was. Just giving the probable British justification for awarding just the BWM. And I suspect that if I applied for Adjutant Marie Emile Adrien Darte's British medals, if they allowed the claim I'd just get the BWM.

Just stumbled on this thread. I've got a few things to add if I can stay awake long enough to do some scans. 1914 Star trio, GSM "Kurdistan" IMSM - 9th Hodson's Horse OBE, IGS 1908 "NWF 1930-31", IGS 1936 "NWF 1936-37", 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, 1953 Coronation Medal, LSGC bar India, Pakistan Independence, (Pakistan Republic Medal -added)

Since it will be hidden by the ribbon (granted it will bulge a bit) I'd leave it. It might not be original to the piece, but it is part of its history.

That makes sense, since each of the Allies had their own Victory Medal. I notice in the MIC Index a number of cards for French officers. I'm thinking of applying for my grandfather's, since he was attached as an interpreter to an R.E. Park until the Canadian government pried him loose to go back and run his munitions factory. As far as I know he never applied for his French medals, either.

The stripes look about right for a Territorial Force War Medal, although with his service I would have expected a BWM at least as well. Unless he pawned his pair and ket the TFWM. I believe that medal was somewhat prized (so much so that my wife's grandfather (15th London Regt.) put the ribbon up along with his trio for his Second War R.C.A.F. service. If you've found his Medal Index Card online at National Archives why not pay the 3.50 and download the image? That should say exactly what he was awarded.

She does. Medal Index There are 3,436 Belgian Agents and 264 French Agents in the Index. Makes me wonder if one of these was the source of the confirmation of Bishop's V.C. raid.

Pay Archives the 3.50 sterling and find out!

That is probably the best known usage. Fifteen rounds in 60 seconds was the British standard for rapid fire in 1914, and was accomplished by using the thumb, not the palm of the hand, to push the bolt up before rapidly slamming it back and home for the next shot. Some musketry instructors could beat that by a fair margin. See this article for more information: Why we practice

That's the bottom line, isn't it? You have to feel right about it, and it has to be in your price range. Back before I was married I would occasionally buy a medal or group just because it "fit my collection". They rarely lasted long.