IrishGunner

The flask is really nice find... I miss European flea markets.

Paul, do you know what all the unit abbreviations mean? I've searched online for a comprehensive list of Indian Army units in WWI - with abbrev's - but have come up empty.

With a topic opening like... "Ugly and cheap...." I thought this was going to be your biography.

Looks like bigger, but actually smaller caliber by 5cm. Just a longer barrel. 10cm Kanone m14

15cm schweres Feldhaubitze m/02 http://landships.info/landships/artillery_articles.html#

No one interested in the rapid advance of aviation in the year prior to the outbreak of WWI? Feb 10, 1913: Charles Rumney Samson, who had been the first person to fly an airplane off of the deck of a ship (on May 9, 1912) became the first person to fire a machine gun from an airplane in flight.

Okay... Time for the big guns. If you are an American Civil War buff or if you've ever been to a Civil War battlefield, you're familiar with the M1857 12-pounder "Napoleon". The iconic cannon of the American Civil War. The North produced more than 1100 of these guns; the South managed to make about 525. Of the approx. 653 artillery pieces at the Battle of Gettysburg, at least 244 were Napoleons. There are today 133 Napoleons at the Gettysburg National Battlefield.

Bill, thanks for the suggestions! Your ideas about making the longer threads more "searchable" are precisely in line with Nick's vision. I also am the moderator for the Great War forum; it has much less content, but that's good because it allows me to hone my skill in forum skill and organization. You are correct in stating that organizing can be a full-time job, but that's the ultimate goal. I'll start the website thread - and pin it - so we can start populating it with links.

"bnac" - welcome to GMIC! No need to apologize for resurrecting old topics - we love it when someone can add new information!

Gentlemen, For those who may have not noticed, I've "signed on" as the Moderator for the Inter-Allied Victory Medals of the Great War forum. A few weeks ago, Nick invited me to become a moderator and asked if I had any preference. My collecting interest lies squarely in WWI, although my knowledge in this area is no where close to that of the many experts that frequent this forum and GMIC in general. When this sub-forum was created I thought it was one of the best new features of GMIC to come along since I have been a member in 2008 and since it was moderator-less, I asked for this spot. I like the way it's already organized and envision no changes. I expect only a need to keep up with light housekeeping. Nonetheless, I would like to solicit your views/ideas on making this forum more user friendly and useful to those that do not normally frequent the discussions here. Feel free to post here in this thread (I can delete it later to keep the forum cleand and topic focused) or send me a private message if you prefer. You can read more about me in my profile... Hopefully, I'll have an Epson scanner soon and I can start adding my Victory Medals - mostly British, but a few US and the usual Belgian, Italian, and French suspects. I hope I discover no fakes!

Since there is a seperate thread away from the UK thread for South Africa Vic's, I thought, I'd re-title this one and we can start a record of Indian Army Vic's. One reason, this might be useful, is to better understand the different ranks/units and abbreviations.

Marine version...

Gangster version...

Going more modern... The Thompson submachine gun... Favored by gangsters and Marines alike...

Good comrades are not forgotten.

Doesn't have to be you... Just the rifle!

Photos?

4 Feb 1913: The German railroad car manufacturer Gothar Waggonfabrik began an aviation division, which would create one of the first heavy bombersused in war, the Gotha G.I, a twin-engine airplane that would drop bombs on the Great Britain during the First World War. 5 Feb 1913: First Lieutenant Michael Moutoussis and Ensign Aristeidis Moraitinis of the Greek Navy conducted the first aerial attack on a warship in history, dropping four bombs on Turkish ships in the Dardanelles, albeit without inflicting any casualties. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_1913#February_5.2C_1913_.28Wednesday.29

Some time ago I have read an article saying that in the period between 1910-1914 military budgets were increased in some cases drastically. British and French around 10 percent but Russian around 40, and German above 70! A study of military budgets during the period you suggest would be a very interesting article...

But of course, the master craftsmen and those with real skills always go to the more important branch of artillery. Those with no practical skills and huge undeserved egos (ie management) of course go to the infantry.

arbeitsgruppe "passenger toilet comfort" or something..... Prime qualifications for infantry.

I agree with your analysis. I struggled to read a "V" under the crown and couldn't "see" one; however, "Verein" is the only thing that makes sense. I immediately thought Plauen also. However, through Google I found there is a Plaue an der Havel in Brandenburg. The year 1886 held no particular significance in my mind; I subtracted 50 and 100 and still found nothing particular about 1836 or 1786 (other than the year of Frederick (II) the Great's death) - but I doubt there is any connection to Der Alte Fritz.)

Agree, pretty nice find. Once again, GMIC membership shows some unusual items.

Great thread and photos! The perfect companion to our discussion in The Great War forum regarding the Balkan Wars... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/56754-the-balkan-wars-1912-13-as-prelude-to-the-great-war/ It would be great for you to join us with your perspectives!

Is it unusual that a Sanitaetsobergefreiter receives a Marineartillerie badge?