peter monahan

The Bronze Star in question is named and part of a mounted group, so it's not really replaceable if something goes wrong... Ouch! Tough call. I suspect though, that the US Museum folks meant you had to clean the brass/bronze with dental picks -ie: very very gently chip away the green, then use naptha to "kill" the chemicals cauisng it so as to prevent a recurrence. I'm pretty sure when it gets to the "crust" stage, verdigris can only be removed by physical, not chemical, cleaning, because it indictaes the metal itself is breaking down: the bronze equivalent of rust. The best you can hope for is to get it off and prevent more - hence naptha- but not restore the original finish because it's not a surface contanminant it's actually coming from the bronze itself. Having said all that, you may want to leave it alone and not risk ruining the group. A few years ago I'd have been an industrious "cleaner" myself, but since taking a conservation course for a museum study's certificate, I'm tending to the museum's approach which is "keep it from getting worse; do nothing you can't undo" (eg, wax, never lacquer). Sorry not to be more help. Peter

Naptha is a petroleum derivative: "kerosene", "coal oil", various other names refer to a family of related hydrocarbons. Lighter fluid would probably work and not be as nasty or dangerous as gasoline. But don't quote me on that, ask someone who knows better if naptha is somehow different from the others. I don't think so but I'd hate to be responsilble for ruining a good piece.

I know nothing about Dennison's as such, but the arm patches look to be nylon, which I think a pretty unlikely material for such things. With all the other odd additions, I'd wonder whether it hasn't been played with by a theatrical costumer or movie type (or a semi-informed amateur) trying for a certain "look" and not very concerned with historical accuracy. My two cents worth. Peter

Don't know exactly when Indian Army units began to use them, but they back a good long way. Not just for berets, as you say, but anywhere "soft" headgear would bring pins into contact with the wearer's skull: beret, turban... Peter

Couldn tell ya, Mike. My last three purchases have all been repro. muskets, but $800.00 doesn't sound unreal for a multi-marked cdn Ross to me. Good luck with whatever you decide to do to/with it! Peter

Lee I would love to have a copy of this - at least the front cover - to use, if I can in my work. Can you pm me at petemonahan@sympatico.ca, please, so I we can arrange scans? Thanks so much! Peter

Good show, that man. I always figure medics and those who help the wounded should go to the head of the line, 'cause they have to be calm cool and collected while they're winning gongs and they don't get to be shooting back at the b*****ds while they're doing it. Another in a long line of noble acts by the British Army. Peter

Mike They're quite collectable up here north of the 49th! If you can get it to a show or dealer in Canada you'll surely make a few bucks anyway. Peter

Part of the Ross Rifle story has to be the pre-war background: It was a superb rifle for accuracy and won many shooting competions and continued to be used by some snipers throughout War One. Unfortunately, it was far too delicate in the working parts for trench conditions, specifically: very prone to jamming if not 100% clean. I've dismantled one myself - once - and re-assembled it with some trepidation because, along with the blowback problem it is in theory possible to mis-assemble it so the bolt locks SHUT on an empty barrel, at which point of course one owns a heavy stick. I suspect that the jamming issue was far more a problem than blowbacks because I can't conceive that any training sergeant would let his charges not learn the correct way! Doesn't mean it didn't happen, but trained men would be far far less likely to do it than my friend and I (his Ross) in a basement with beer. The real issue for the Cdn Army was that the Ross Rifle was championed by Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia. The same guy who tried to have himself awarded the VC for his stirling work (in Canada) on the war effort and who promoted the entrenching shovel with the hole in the middle of the blade - for use as a sniper shield. Duhhh! Hughes insisted that it be the Ross or nothing and so got a bunch of our boys killed. Modern views of Sam are summed up by local legend in Lindsay, Ontario where both he and my wife grew up. It now has a college called "Sir Sandford Fleming College" after the inventor of time zones. However one early (apocryphal) name suggestion was the Sam Hughes Institute of Technology, not because he deserved but becasue the initials - S.H.I..." would nicely sum up Sam Hughes.

Jim is right. This lot makes most museum collection's look sick in comparison! BTW, Australia IS on my list of "Places where the natives are (usually) friendly and they have beer" so, who knows, I may wash up on your doorstep some cold summer night. Peter

Tony Thanks. Generous offer. I'd love the scans! And I think they're public domain, so I should be ok to use them. If you'll send them on, I'll check. Muchos gracias! peter

True dat! Seriously though, in a previous existance - when I had hair, wind and a working memory - I built AFV models till my mom wept. For purposes of this post I'm gonna define "influential" as meaning the tank everyone said "Want one!" to. And that's the Tiger, hands down. Too heavy, too slow, etc etc. and not a patch on Shermans or Soviet hardware in terms of how many and how well used. But including all the poor sods who survived being shot at by one and all the people who just think its a way cool fighting machine, Tigers have it. Mythology after all, is what we Western 21st Centurions live and die by! My tuppence and change worth! Great thread! Peter

Gentlemen I am currently writing a history course for the Ontario (Canada) Ministry of Education and am working on the World War Two. I am planning an activity on the Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) and am very interested in locating photos taken at Dieppe and in other signifiicant Canadian campaigns. I would also be interested in personal accounts experiences during the war. Because of the nature of the project, I can only use photos for which I can get crystal clear copyright permission. The simplest way is obviously from the photographers themselves but that seems unlikely. Next best is from current owners of privately made images and last is from institutions, just due to the paperwork and time constraints. If any of you own photos (or personal accounts) you would be willing to let me use or can point me at useful websites, private or not, please let me know. Thanks for your help in this. Peter Monahan

Gentlemen I am currently writing a history course for the Ontario (Canada) Ministry of Education and am working on the World War Two. I am planning an activity on the Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) and am very interested in locating photos taken by or of German positions and troops at Dieppe. I would also be interested in personal accounts by Heer personnel of their experiences during the raid. Because of the nature of the project, I can only use photos for which I can get crystal clear copyright permission. The simplest way is obviously from the photographers themselves but that seems unlikely. Next best is from current owners of privately made images and last is from institutions, just due to the paperwork and time constraints. If any of you own photos (or personal accounts) you would be willing to let me use or can point me at useful websites, private or not, please let me know. Thanks for your help in this. Peter Monahan

That is interesting! I didn't think it was possible to qualify for a campign star without simultaneously qualifying for the '39-'45, but I admit I've never studied it closely. Do let us know what the gubmint blokes say. Peter

That's gonna leave a mark!

Good on ya, Sam! Look forward to reading your posts. Peter

Tom I own several of these. We bought them when I began re-enacting War of 1812 because the correct buckets - wooden - are $80.00 and a six month wait. The neat thing is that they hold water and stand up when wet but collapse when dry. There is a camping version - Chinese I think - with a palstic rim on the ottom and no wood stiffener in the handle which DON'T hold water - cotton too thin. Anyway, these buckets - the ones you've pictured - are modern German or swedish army issue: weigh nothing, hold water. Not nearly WWI though. Sorry! Peter

The likeliest advice you'd get from conservator on old ribbons is "Don't try to clean it" unless you're an expert or it's badly stained: may very well not be colour fast, especially at it's apparent age. Check US Parks Service "Conserv-O-Grams" for specifics on textile care. Peter

I've seen RAOB certificates to Aussies and the first degree (of 4) is "Kangaroo" but apparently the "Certified Primo" refers to what became the English Grand Lodge at some point. Google "fraternal orders" and RAOB and you might get more info - a couple sites I saw have extensive newsletters and lists of at least past masters. Try posting your query on the masonic thread as well. Good luck! Peter

Makes perfect sense! And, BTW, hobnails don't necessarily imply military wear. I have a pair of Dutch "Klompen" which I wear around camp on wet mornings when I re-enact the War of 1812. I've hobnailed the bottoms to give me a grip on wet grass and I'm sure I'm only re-inventing what clever people have done for centuries! Peter

I did wonder! Thanks. Joking aside, these are fascinating photos. Best, Peter

Anyone else who reads this thread should know that Michael was disinherited on three separate occasions by his revered father, no mean wordsmith himself, for being too "punny". Oh, the shame of it! Peter

Well done, Michael Charles! Shabash!

I'm going to digress here, 'cause to me machine guns are just (close eyes now to avoid heresy) just noisy big things that make you a target! Digression: In Chris' post #2, who's the very "darkish" fellow in the bottom right of the photo? I didn't think the Imperial German Army had any colonial troops in Europe. Just curious. Seriously, though - great MGs! Peter