muckaroon1960

If you get the chance would be worth a visit to the 100BG Thorpe Abbotts museum, home of the “Bloody Hundredth” at Thorpe Abbots Village, Near Diss, Norfolk, England. Great little museum based in the control tower which has been restored. Funny thing is the members of staff back in the day would cycle up to the control tower to break the windows and vandalise the building. Not a lot of the runways left now as most of the land has been restored to agriculture but a few buildings here and there which are derelict including the Battle HQ which is off in the woods to the left of the tower and the museum are in the process of negotiating with the land owner to restore this bunker. What is left though is a restored Tower and out buildings which commands a good overall view of the airfield. Lots of exhibits inside including uniforms, patches, medals and model displays. Nice little Tea room and shop selling gifts and a dedicated group of volunteer staff with a lot of knowledge. Bought the obligatory 100BG tea mug as a souvenir. One of the pilots stationed here was Robert Rosie Rosenthal and there’s an exhibit to him in the tower. He’s also mentioned in “Masters of the Air” and he was part of the Munster raid October 43 when out of 13 planes sent from Thorpe Abbots, only his B17 “Rosie’s Riveters” returned. Rosenthal went on to complete his 25th mission in 1944 and continued flying missions. Post war he returned to his career as a Lawyer and eventually found himself at Nuremburg where he interviewed the likes of Hermann Goering. I remember seeing him on a documentary about Nuremberg and Rosenthal felt justice had been served on the Nazi regime.

Open Weekends March to October (including Bank Holidays) and on a Wednesday from May to September. Well worth a visit if you get the chance and free to enter but check with the website as sometimes there are events on.

Website: http://www.100bgmus.org.uk 

Yes I second that, great set of medals and badges, especially the marksman's with the wrap around brooch.

Hi Tony, really nice. They look like they were destined for the melting pot in that condition? So good job you've saved them. If you can find replacement parts you could sell complete and perhaps a better price.

Set of 5 which i presume is Navy due to the 2 stars on the air medal. Not sure of age of these?. Pin mounted on the back.

Awarded for service for a number of small campaigns and operations in India before and after the First World War. Clasps were added for different campaigns for the North West Frontier, Afghanistan, Waziristan, Burma, Malabar and Mahsud from 1908 till 1935 with either Edward 7th or George 5th bust on the front with on the reverse the fortress of Jamrud in the Khyber Pass. This particular IGS was awarded 1909 to Private 706 Arthur Richardson of the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Peshwar 14th April. Pt Richardson was also awarded the Victory, British and 1914 Star medal sadly posthumously having been killed 11th October 1916 Northern France. Aged 31 and with the rank of Lance Corporal, he has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. His family came from Nottingham. The IGS were either struck by the Royal Mint or the Indian Government in Calcutta with this medal being the latter due to its plain suspender. A nice addition to my Royal Warwickshire Regiment medal collection. (N.B. replacement Ribbon).

Hi, done some research on this and according to Kerrigans "American War Medals and decorations"  The Tiffany medal was awarded only once post WW1 for combat action in Nicaragua 1927 to a US marine Lieutenant Christian F. Schilt. The older style medal (1913-1919) continued to be awarded for Non-combat action and one of these was awarded for the same Nicaraguan campaign to Marine Corporal Donald LeRoy Truesdell for non combat heroism. The Tiffany Medal was replaced with the latest modern version we see nowadays in 1942.

As far as I can tell based on Dixons Medal Year Book the ISM from 1920 is a made of Silver and no other metals? Before 1920 the medal was similar to the Imperial Service Order and was silver with a bronze wreath or star.

Not entirely sure but could be Army catering corp?

Hi, yes does look like Scots Guards emblem and buttons are correct shape for pipers tunic. No idea as to age of tunic?

Collar badge looks similar to the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry.

Have recently acquired a 1943 Royal Engineers Battle Dress Tunic complete with Sergeants stripes and a badge for the X111 corp which saw service in the Western Desert, Tunisia, Sicily and Italy. Didn't realise at the time of purchase (local car boot sale) that the tunic was made in the USA by Davis Sportswear Inc and has the Philadelphia Q.M. Depot Inspectors label. Seems this was part of the lend/lease agreement between Britain and America. Dated Jan 4th 1943. You learn something new every day.  

That's a really nice set and with history also. Thanks for posting and sharing these.

That's a great collectible tin right there and very rare by the looks of it. I've never seen one before but very nice, very nice indeed.

Wow Great medal. That's a  rare find indeed.

Thanks for sharing this story. Lt Clydesdale will not be forgotten. 

I believe (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that the bronze star on the defense medal was awarded for participation in a campaign or major battle for overseas service prior to WW2 as well as the letter A for service with the Atlantic fleet prior to WW2 also.

Yep sounds good to me! N S  Meyer, NY maker of insignia. Any chance of a close up of the makers mark as this may determine age.

Hi, looks good to me, marked Sterling silver and what looks like a makers make on the back of the shield. Can't read what it says ? what size is it?

Research indicates that Rickenbacker was awarded seven DSC's during WW1. If that's the case (and please correct me if I'm wrong) then there should be one bronze and one silver oak leaf on his ribbon? 

Looks good to me and as long as you're happy with it then that's all that matters. Nice job! 

One of my favourite US medals. Not acquired an engraved one as yet but on my wish list. Thanks for posting.

Fantastic tribute to a brave airman. Thanks for posting.

The Humanitarian service medal dates from 1977 and medals with the GI logo were phased out circa 1995. I've never found a PI-GI maker unless PI just made suspender brooches which is unlikely but I may be wrong?

According to Foster and Borts "US military medals 1939 to present" the Bronze arrowhead denotes participation in parachute, glider or amphibious landing or assault and was awarded only to the Army. I don't have any Vietnam service medals with a Arrowhead but do have a ribbon made by NS Meyer with Arrowhead and Bronze Star.

“The Call of Duty” (John E Sandberg & Roger James Bender) and Kerrigans “American War Medals & Decorations” along with Foster & Borts “US Military Medals” are all good reference material.

The Call of Duty, (R James Bender Publishing 1994) John E Sandberg & Roger James Bender.

American War Medals & Decorations. (Viking Press, New York. Leo Cooper Ltd) Evans E Kerrigan

US Military Medals 1939 to Present (Medals of America Press 1998, Fountain Inn, SC) Col. Frank Foster & Mr. Lawrence Borts.