Michael Johnson

Sam, I suspect it was his pension that allowed him to send my father to university (granddad started work before he was 14). Dad became a very successful corporate lawyer. I followed in his footsteps, but chose an alternative to practice. This year my son graduates from law school, to make the third generation. A long way from Bells Close Newcastle! Michael

Sam, you must be very proud of your grandfather. My paternal grandfather enlisted in the Canadian Army Service Corps in 1916, got pneumonia on a field day in Toronto, and according to family history, lost an eye when they were attempting to anaethetize him and ether got spilled on his face. Medical discharge on pension with a Class C discharge pin. My maternal grandfather was French, and was recalled to duty from Canada in 1914. He was attached to the British Army as an interpreter - until his company, then engaged in the war effort, realized that he was the only one who knew the processes. After many letters and diplomatic notes the French Army let him go back to Canada.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic had a dedicated Halifax Explosion room when i was there some years ago. Michael

Sam, Not a mad idea at all. Sadly I suspect that the CWM is more interested in the Centenary of Vimy. I wonder if the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic http://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/ in Halifax could get more traction? Lots of information there: http://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/search/node/halifax explosion I have a small collection of single medals to men who were on ships at or near Halifax that day. Still missing HMS Highflyer and HMS Changuinola. I have two to HMCS Niobe - an R.N.C.V.R. clerk and an R.N. Regulating Petty Officer. I was able to find a photograph of the latter. He's the one sitting on the right end of the bench. Previous service in China in 1900.

Lots of good books on the Halifax Explosion, which is a topic that fascinates me. See here: for a post that illustrates how one family was affected. Michael

Back in the day when the wife and I had time to do things, we go downtown. When we meet up, Terry says, "The antique store has a badge you might be interested in." So, with no great hope I go to have a look. A Canadian Militia helmet, with Pattern 1908 Star Plate to the 31st Regiment. Traces of gold paper (amateur theatricals?). Sadly missing the screw attachment for the spike/button, but 100% authentic ("au jus" for our French friends). And how much? $35!

25 cents per week Grade 1 to 8; $5.00 grade 9 to 12; $10.00 grade 13. No allowance in Uni. Northumberland and Cumberland, Sir! Not a Yorkie! And sadly my shako for R.N.R. Scout Brigade of Fort George is Belgic. If it were stovepipe, I'd put on my nice brass one, bought at Jack Shepherd's some 40 years or more ago.

Quite rightly. "Type" collectors who split groups for one medal were/are the bane of our hobby. It's bad enough when groups are split within families ("One silver for you, one silver for me; one bronze for you, one bronze for me."), but that is understandable. The sad fact is that many groups will never be re-assembled. But that Victory holds the key to the man's story. And in some cases the story continues. I bought a 1914-15 Star and Victory to a man in the Royal Naval Reserve. His service record showed that he had been discharged with tuberculosis and died very soon after. I got his death certificate, and put the case forward to the Commonwealth War Graves through the "In From the Cold Project". It was accepted and now a CWGC headstone is being erected: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/75451073/MURPHY, JAMES Michael

Many do feel that way. However many British War Medals were sold for their silver value and smelted. If you are collecting to a theme, Victory Medals are the least expensive way to collect First War British medals. Michael

RN Seamen's papers are available on Ancestry.com, or British National Archives. It would probably be cheaper to take out a monthly subscription with ancestry.co.uk and just get Britain-only rather than a world subscription. The search page is: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60522. You could purchase credits to search a few medals. For ships, just Google HMS XXXX, and you will probably find what you're looking for. e.g. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=HMS+Queen+Mary This site is great for further information: http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishShips-Dittmar3WarshipsA.htm Some ships log books have been transcribed: http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-LogBooksWW1.htm Good luck! And if you find any sailor who was on HMS Highflyer in December 1917, please tell me! (Not a battleship). Michael

Peter, my records are that it was a 1914-15 Star. He was 15th Bn. which took heavy casualties July 1, 1916. Michael

No allowance!

Well, she's changed just a bit since these were taken. Then again, so has Peter.

Try here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Malaysian_police_officers_killed_in_the_line_of_duty I suspect that this list was complied by someone in Malaysia, possibly with the Police Force, given the amount of detail. Michael

Rodney, A fantastic display, and a family history to be proud of. I had a similar coincidence, in that I found that my wife's grandfather and my uncle probably worked together with the RCAF in Toronto in the Second War. Of course by the time I met my wife both were no longer with us, so I couldn't ask. Michael

[1930] 2 K.B. 364, [1930] All E.R. Rep. 96 (K.B.) - Sorry but three years of Law School and 28 years in legal publishing, you learn always to give the legal citation for a case. Michael

You can get them for $20, but $25 isn't too bad.

Apparently there were several sets of medals named to K of K. There are also "Veterans Death Cards" (not sure how current, but at least into the 1960s). Cause of death and where buried, also whether death was related to service, which meant a Memorial Cross could be issued to wife/mother. I would also recommend seller maritimemedals http://www.ebay.com/usr/maritimemedals?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754 on eBay. I've dealt with Paul for many years, and he has a good selection of First War singles at reasonable prices. Michael

Bernhard, Would it be possible to put a USB cord in your ear and download all of your memories? When I think of all that you have seen (only a fraction of which you have recounted to us).... Michael

Researchability varies. I think about 80% of First War British Army records were destroyed or damaged during the Blitz. Navy and RAF records do not seem to have suffered. Canadian records are currently being digitized and posted online on the Library and Archives of Canada website (the enlistment papers are already all up). Canadian casualties also have separate "Circumstances of Death" cards, which can give more information on how they died (although "KiA" does occur). A possible plus is that there were a lot of Americans in the CEF. Here's an example: "BWM 3031044 Pte. H. Dixon 75-Can. Inf. Papers here: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=356288 Born in Liverpool in 1888, living in Chicago when he enlisted in the CEF. Still in Chicago in 1942 when he registered for the draft. Wounded 1918, losing top joints of left index finger and invalided. Entitled to a pair." PM me if you want to know more about Dixon, who I have for sale on another forum. Michael

That is correct. The size of the block could vary widely. As has been said "Regimental Numbers of the Canadian Army" by Clive M. Law is the best source. Michael

My maternal grandfather, a metallurgical engineer, was enticed to Canada in 1908 to run a plant in Welland Ontario. In 1914 he reported for duty on general mobilization. He served in France with the 327 RI and was then seconded to the British as an Interpreter. In 1915, at the urgent pleadings of his company and the Canadian government he was released to return and run his plant. As far as we can tell, he never claimed his medals. My grandmother had twins in 1912 (one being my mother), another daughter in 1915, and finally a son in 1920. So a Medaille de la famille in bronze, right? Nope, she and her husband became Canadian citizens in 1919. Michael

The 90th were in Canada during the War of 1812. I can't find any reference to service there during Treadwell's service. Michael

1/23 E[scadrille] Campagnes d'A[frique F[rancais du] N[ord]

"And the R.A.S.C. on my medals stands for 'Royal Army Special Commando'!" Michael