Mervyn Mitton

Very well written Brian - and a warning to everone - even the fittest.

Brian - I was sorry to hear that you are unwell - and 'swinging the lead' ! Get back to work
at once..........

However, on a more serious note - I must - as a representitive of the Racoon population -
take you to task for your cavalier attitude to their health and well being.

When you have wiped out the Ontario population with your cold - do you intend to start
on the next Province ?

Great shame - but you have to respect her wishes.

We know all about the oversized beauties in Sth. Africa - some of the up-country visitors have to be seen to be believed.
Happy Holidays. Mervyn

Frank - half the trouble is that DHL have started to increase their rates at a silly amount.
I had an envelope - A5 size - and needed it to get to the UK quickly. They quoted Rands 950 -
which is 85 pounds. I sent it by air through the PO for 4 pounds and it was there in a week.

Perhaps it is better to trust the Post Office ? Mervyn

Another interesting and well written article Brian. I do wonder if anyone actually reads these blogs. I have my final two to post - but, am wondering if it is worth the effort. Just to finish the story, I probably will at the weekend.

Silly me - I'd forgotten what the document was for - it's old age !

Nice article - with a good touch of humour. Keep them coming.

BUT..............what the heck was the medal ????

Dear Major Steel - I am most sorry to learn of your loss. Being a collector I had one in my collection at one time - however , it dated back to the 1940's. They are valuable and since you have taken the trouble to contact us, I presume you have notified the auction houses ?

I will make mention of this on our Lost or stolen Forum. Best wishes in having it located.
Mervyn

Well done Brian - I think you have chosen the perfect title to allow you to comment on various topics. I , too, will look forward to future posts.

Of course, now you make me feel guilty that I haven't 'blogged' for two weeks - I'd better do something before Nick notices.............

Mervyn

I agree - not a good idea to have a 'fight' - will give the inmates ideas. Still - it it wasn't your fault put a strong laxative in his coffee.............

Judging from your entries in the Logo Comp. I would say you have a strong sense of desiign. I say this with some authority as I used to be a Senior A/c Exec. with some top advertising agencies.
I would strongly advise that you do some courses and get a few diplomas - there is always a shortage of competent commercial artists and designers.

Thanks for supporting the Photo Comp - we have reached over 600 entries - finishes tomorrow night. Then they have to judge them and I have to send out the certificates and prizes. I hope you are succesful. Mervyn

Stuart - you raised the point about Dresden and Hiroshima. The latter was justified and saved thousands of young US lives.

Dresden has always been a 'blot' - simply because two wrongs don't make a right ! However, there are some points to consider.

The attacks on Britain weren't just in the early part of the War. The 1944 V1's and V2 attacks
had been planned for many years. They were merciless in their randomness - and no one in Germany ever cared who was hurt or, killed. They were also totally aimed at civilians - in the hopes that we would negotiate a peace.

Dresden was in the last period of the war - it has been acknowledged by experts that the Firestorm was an unexpected and dreadful event. One that was not looked for or, wished for.
Only in recent years have the full effects of a firestorm been appreciated.

So, at this stage - the German Third Reich could have surrendered unconditionally - our
terms for ending the War. This would have been the sensible thing to do - would have saved Russian occupation and saved untold German lives. However, the people concerned had the
good of the population totally out of mind. Perhaps under these circumstances - and bearing what they had done to our civilians for five years - the justification to make a sharp lesson was justified.

Bear in mind that the Boer Republic did the same thing - their army was defeated - but, the hardliners insisted on fighting a commando war. This caused great loss of life and property.

Tracy - the closest I have been able to come to an identity for the unit is : The Alexandra, Princess of Wale's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry (Hussars). 1908 to 1956. The use of the double rose - the Tudor one - is quite common - however, they appear to have used it on it's own. We
must await further identifications. Don't worry about posting any of the badges on this blog section - we are making an exception. With regard to the daggers - actually fighting knives - I
think these have been made as lapel pins for identification of members of the unit. I don't think they will be official issue.
Best wishes. Mervyn

Tracy - it has been pointed out to me that the dagger may be a miniature. There was no scale and it does look like a stud on the side. Perhaps you could say how long it is ?

Thankyou both for taking the time to reply. Whilst writing this I have been aware of my later knowledge of Dresden and the Japanese bombings. I don't think this little post is the right place to discuss it all - I am only writing from my viewpoint as a very small boy - and how it affected me. Any children under similar circumstances - and in whatever Country - would have suffered the same privations and dangers.

Tracy - you're doing well. Just the descriptions of getting sidetracked will be familiar to every member - we all do that. No-one is quite sure at present how many members are actually reading the Blogs - I think it is a fair number - so, don't be put off if there aren't a lot of immediate answers. We are all delighted to have you - and keep up the humerous bits - great reading.

Now, you will understand that badges such as these would normally go under British badges.
I can identify the lower one as a cap badge and the top one is probably a collar badge - two would be worn - one on either lapel. The flower is the double rose - the original Tudor badge.
I will check on which regt. - however, it is likely another member will answer before I get back to you.

The lower item is a combined knuckle-duster and commando style knife. The solid piece is in the palm and the fingers around the spikes. Should you strike someone in the face they would do terrible damage. The blade of the knife is curved and is intended to go under the rib cage - directly into the chest. The Middle East countries use this style.

The shape and style makes me think of early WW2 Royal Marine Commando's. Could your family member have been a commando ? IIf it can be proved to be a genuine issue and not home made - then it is quite valuable.

Keep posting - we will look forward to 'reading you' on a regular basis. Mervyn

Thankyou Greg - all contributions to the Comp. are gratefully accepted - I think we stand a chance of hitting 400 entries - which is exceptional. Did your Certificate arrive ?

Have a great holiday and try to bring a few prisoners back for your establishment ! I was driving back to London late one evening - in pouring rain. I never give lifts but felt sorry for a hitchhiker.
He - for some reason, that I am sure he regretted later - started to tell me his 'life story' - which included that he had just escaped from prison. He got quite a fright when I told him I was Police and handcuffed him. I dropped him off at a Police Station I passed - had to wake the Sgt. up - he wasn't too pleased either.

We used to have a saying - ' if you can't take a joke - you shouldn't have joined !' A lot of truth in that.

Have a great holiday. Mervyn

Greg - don't waste that presious 11 days - post photos on the Comp. !

When I was in the Met. we used to have this time off problem. Extra time for Court - or, for overtime was on a card - you could take it as time, but at one time they would pay it as extra salary. I believe that has been stopped as too expensive.

Yes - you're very welcome. Look forward to seeing the different things. Mervyn

Huck - I think one of our difficulties with GMIC is that we don't 'cross boundaries'. Obviously the knowledge aspect plays a big role in this - however, we are all fellow members and inter action
is important.

If I introduce signatures as a new subject on our Documents forum, would you be willing to give an introductory post on what members should be looking for and the importance of such a list ?
I expect we already have members who collect autographs.

I had a feeling that was your job - but I couldn't recall seeing it. When I was in the Met. Police we used to have to take women prisoners to our womens' prison - Holloway. Always a number of male warders on duty. We never went right inside, but, I must say that it was the one prison I was nervous of - a hard bunch of women.

It's next to Collectors' Blogs - but, Nick may have just added it ?

I think it's an excellent idea - all of these new additions keep us ahead of the opposition and give us something to offer to new members.

I would like to take the opportunity to say that we seem to add these new ideas - but, they need an explanation. Perhaps a few paras on the Lounge ? I turned it on yesterday, but, it
wouldn't switch off - so the icon showed 1 member was on-line. However, no one tried to open and see who it was. How can we tell the members that a particular person is on the Chat room and can be contacted by ................ A few simple instruction steps would help members overcome their nervousness.

Hucks - I'm not sure that a blog is the best place to start this 'push' - however, if you can turn it into an interesting regular hunt and the things you have had to do to get signatures - then I think
you have great potential and members will be interested. I notice that the only Forums at present are for German material - however, under our British section we have a Documents
Forum which would be ideal. Best of luck - and keep the momentum going. Mervyn

Very sad Greg - had he been ill or, was it personal problems ? I take a sleeping tablet at night and took the trouble to read the little pamphlet - it said 'predisposes you to suicide ! ' I can
assure you I am very careful with the one tablet I take.

I have been a little disappointed with the response everyone has had on the blog. I think it is an
excellent innovation and one that could give a whole new interest to our members. However,
it does seem that we have only a limited number of viewers. No real way of telling. I was actually thinking of tailing mine off - however, there was a nice lady in the shop on Friday, and the blog came-up in conversation - we had been talking about WW2. She took the GMIC leaflet I give out and plans to join. She is from George in the Eastern Cape - so we must welcome her if she joins.

Take care - I have had your certificate sent off on Friday. The Comp. is doing well now - 264 up to Thursday. Greg - somewhere along the line I've missed what your job is - please put a little note in for new readers. Mervyn

Greg - I wish some of your photos would appear on the Photo Comp. - I'm sure they would do well. Also, the mushrooms (more likely Toadstools) could be very photogenic ?

Please IM your address - I've got a copy of the Certificate to send - this shows the logo very well.
Keep blogging - I enjoy your exploits. Mervyn