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    Michael Johnson

    Old Contemptible
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    Posts posted by Michael Johnson

    1. That web site that listed past sales was great, and I shall surely use it again. Thanks! What course can I take to see if this man was entitled to this number of clasps, as rifle brigades do qualify, so its not out of the question. Thanks in adavance.

      You will need to find a researcher at the National Archives in England. Here's a list from the website: National Archives Researchers. You can also have the Archives do it, but the charge 15 pounds for 15 minutes.

    2. It's hard to be sure, but I'd say that the Africa Star was added to the full-size group, and that the minis are the proper entitlement.

      The First Canadian Division and the Fifth Canadian Armoured Division would have qualified for this combination. The only Canadian soldiers who qualified for the Africa Star were a handful of officers and I believe a few NCOs who were attached to British units (Strome Galloway comes to mind).

    3. Now that is one BEAUTIFUL medal! Do you own this?

      I would think there are very, very few units that would be entitled to four bars on the campaign medal.

      Also, is there any way to tell whether a Turkish Crimean campaign medal was issued to an individual or unit? Any one know the award criteria, or was simply a 'i was there' medal?

      Sam.

      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!")

    4. Where these "anti-bandit" campaigns, or actual "separatist" expeditions? I know absolutely nothing about the whys and wherefores of these last gasp campaigns (hint hint)....

      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

    5. 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!

    6. my wife got bored and went for a walk. She came back 15 minutes later with a Lebel rifle, twisted and bent from the plough.

      Tony

      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. :(

    7. But the name has been erased! Do we wish to encourage this practice? Like all those name-erased Army of India Medals on the market. Almost all were once named to Indians but erased by the helpful dealers as the market price for an erased medal was higher than one to an Indian! Desecration!!

      :angry::violent:

      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" :shame: named one.

    8. 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.

    9. Pretty sure the all green ribbon on the one is wrong, but again... I just don't know. If it is, and if anyone happens to have a ribbon for it they'd be willing to part with please let me know. Thanks! :cheers:

      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.

    10. Hi Michael,

      Many thanks for the info. Sorry I don't have a scanner yet so can't get that finely detailed a shot... however, I'm looking at it under a loop and here's what it has... as best I can make out. ;):unsure:

      In the first impression is a capital SG in a rectangular boxed impression.

      The next one is a lion, facing left, standing on the hind paws with the front legs raised as if on the attack. It's in a square boxed impression but with two "points" coming up from the bottom.

      The next is "I think" (hard to tell as it's rather small) a shield with crossed swords behind it. It's also in a square boxed impression with two "points" coming up from the bottom.

      The last one is "I think" a letter D in kind of a Gothic font... looks almost like it could be an O but it's got a swing up from the right to the upper left that comes off the top... Kim checked it too as she's excellent with fonts and she agrees that's it's probably a D. And it's in the same kind of boxed impression with the two "points", etc. as above.

      Hope this helps.

      Thanks, :cheers:

      Dan

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

    11. This a a nice one Dan (as are all the ones posted :love: ). This one is called "The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire".

      Background:

      With WW1 lasting longer than expected and no suitable way to reward services to the war effort by civilians at home and servicemen in support positions, King George V created an Order with 5 grades, the first two conferring knighthood.

      The order could be given generously for services to the Empire at home, in India and the Dominions and Colonies. The order was created mainly to reward non-combatant services to the war effort and was to include women, whom most existing orders excluded. When the order was created in 1917 it had only one division, but was divided into Civil and Military divisions in 1918. The order at any level could be awarded for gallantry as well as service.

      The Order took an abrupt change in appearance in 1937 when the insignia and the colour of the ribbon were changed.

      The Grades:

      1. Knight or Dane Grand Cross (GBE/DBE)

      2. Knight or Dame Commander (KBE/DBE)

      3. Commander (CBE)

      4. Officer (OBE)

      5. Member (MBE)

      Your's is the fifth grade - Member (MBE) - The member wears a silver badge (51mm wide) on the left breast (no enamels).

      ORIGINAL BADGE - The circular Center, in Gold, shows the figure of Britannia, holding a trident and seated beside a shield bearing the national flag.

      ORIGINAL RIBBON - The civil ribbon was purple (38mm wide). The Military Ribbon had a narrow central stripe of scarlet.

      CURRENT BADGE - (After 1937) - As Original except that in the center, in gold, are the crowned effigies of King George V and his consort Queen Mary.

      CURRENT RIBBON - (After 1937) - The civil ribbon is rose-pink with pearly-grey edges. The Military ribbon has a narrow central stripe of pearl-grey added.

      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.

    12. Micheal shhhh....NCO's are the back bone of any army, and never let on they don't know the answer ;)

      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. :cheeky:

    13. In WWII they were designated an artillery unit (Mediums?) and, I believe, stayed in Nfld, though almost certainly sent drafts overseas to other RCA units.

      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 :P )

      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.

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