IrishGunner

Looks like a good program of events at the US WWI museum. Anyone know of other programs for 28 June to commemorate the Archduke's assassination?

Some great new articles on the site. If you haven't visited, you should.

There can't be a lot of those around in new condition in the wrapper. Where did you find them?

Puttees?

Looks like a "First Day Cover" for the inauguration (Amtsantritt) of the Nazi General Government in in occupied Krakow, Poland. The General Government territory was an administrative region of the Reich. Interestingly, the address in the US - Newark, Delaware is right next to the University of Delaware. Images on Google. (A First Day Cover is an envelope or card bearing a stamp which is cancelled on the day the stamp is initially placed on sale by the postal authorities.)

American art historian sets out to locate First World War memorials across the country

An excellent website collating news about the WWI Centenary. The "Events" list is interesting. It seems a Vienna Philharmonic concert in Sarajevo on 28 June is the only event to commemorate the "spark" that started the war.

And interesting article 99 Things You Need To Know About Franz Ferdinand Before The 100th Anniversary Of His Assassination

Very interesting. I hope some other members can add some info.

I would imagine to track UK subjects that live abroad. I am stating the obvious to you, but you can be a British subject and live in another country. Go to the site. Click "no" to UK citizen or resident and you will see the red warning. Also, go to the bottom and click "Terms and Conditions" Submission Conditions An e-petition may freely disagree with the government or call for changes of policy. There will be no attempt to exclude critical views. Decisions to accept or reject will be made on an impartial basis. However, to protect this service from abuse, e-petitions must satisfy some basic conditions. To create or sign an e-petition, you must be either: a British citizen a resident in the UK (you normally live in the UK) I am not trying to be argumentative and surely support saving Firepower. But clearly this is not open to those not subject to Her Majesty's rule. I wish it were...but I think its pretty clear that my "vote" won't (and shouldn't) count. Again, a pity, because this history has a legacy for Gunners regardless of citizenship.

used to mark the temporary grave If it's a temporary marker, I see no problem with its further sale. Has anyone seen another of these? Info on Gefreiter Depenhart: His final resting place is "Block 1 Reihe 1 Grab 34 in the Marigny (Frankreich) Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof" The site says he died near St. Sobon-Coburg, but I couldn't find that exact town in France. I do know that 5 July 1944 was one of the worst days of fighting for US 7th Corps in the general vicinity of Marigny. Research worthy IMHO

When I check the "No" box to the question, "British citizen or UK resident?" I get the following pop-up in red type: You must be a British citizen or normally live in the UK to create or sign e-petitions. I'm all for saving Firepower (as a Gunner I clearly have a vested interest), but wouldn't violating the terms of UK e-petitions by having non-citizens "sign" void the petition itself?

Curious question: Will MoD close all of its military museums or is this one being singled out for some obscure reason?

Unfortunately, one must be a resident of the UK to sign the petition. Of all the armies in the world, I thought we could always count on the British Army to uphold it's long, long history and traditions. I guess the Exchequer doesn't have that same feeling. Sad day when Firepower closes.

Because his "gun" wasn't big enough for the artillery. (Seriously, that was too easy. )

One of the most informative threads on a rare and unusual subject. Thanks to all involved.

Thanks for your link

Interesting thread on a Chinese WWI commemorative medal in the China forum. According to one of our experts, Lambert, a very rare piece. Have a look: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/62667-chinese-1914-1918-medal/#entry590053

Thanks Lambert - excellent info!

I didn't know about this WWI medal. What was the award criteria?

H Hugh, the ribbon on your example is the original 1920 ribbon - red with white side stripes. During WWII, the Polish Govt in Exile in London issued Cross of Valour with a different ribbon - white with red side stripes, like on your ribbon bar. So, both are Cross of Valour; just different issues. The ribbon bar makes sense as it would have been the Exile Govt that likely awarded the cross to an American.

My pleasure. Disappointed I didn't nail Coast Artillery from the start, but I think I recovered well enough. As a pin back, this piece is most likely prior to mid-60s, when I believe clutch backs became the norm. Sorry I can't be more precise than that.

Found it!!! Not Coast Artillery... It's an Engineer unit. Specifically, the 21st Engineer Battalion. Former elements of the unit were part of the Army of the Potomac and the crossed oars and anchor is the old badge of the Engineers and Pontoniers. Here is the US Army Institute of Heraldry website page for the unit with its DUI: http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=8784&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services

I just took a look at my best reference...website of the Coast Defense Study Group: http://cdsg.org/coast-artillery-corps/ They have a pdf with Coast Artillery DUI: http://cdsg.org/old/reprint%20PDFs/CACRegInsig.pdf Your DUI is not in there... But those crossed oars with anchor and the star-shaped fort as the crest still make me think Coast Artillery.

Jerry, you are free to add your images/pieces to any thread. I'll speak for the majority of members; we like having additional pieces added to on-going threads. It's great to compare even common pieces and it allows for addition of unusual pieces. It also keeps a more complete record of the topic. Post away!