peter monahan

Fascinating indeed. The digital records of soldiers' files for WWI are now available at the Canadian Archives, up to the end of the 'C's in the alphabet. Coderre is in the records as 'Codere' [one 'r'] here: http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B1834-S031 He was only 21 when he enlisted in 1914 and all of his records record that he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. His temporary commission ends and he is dismissed the service on 5th Feb. 1916. Interestingly, his last pay - $65.00 - was paid out in 1917 before the file was closed. Pay probably went to his mother,as his other allotments had.

The red and gold suggest Spain to me as well, though the stripes more typically run vertically in the arms of Aragon. The bishop's mitre could be any Catholic nation, but fairly old, as later arms used an elaborate system of tassels to identify priest, monseigneurs, bishops, cardinals and so on. Likewise, the cross and lion are very common in medieval heraldry, so hard to pin down to one place. Any information at all as to where the banner or fragment came from - recently, I mean?

I doubt that it is Indian, as the star is used mostly by post Independence Indian forces and was not a feature of British Indian Army badges that I can think of, though its such a broad field it is very hard to be dogmatic. I'd guess Cameronians as well.

With the long stem driven into the ground next the back door, it would certainly work as a boot scraper, so I'd say that's as good a guess as any. Interesting bit!

Leigh When you mention 'trainer whitener' I assume that you are referring to what we colonials would call 'liquid shoe polish [white]' or 'shoe whitener'. I have chums who've used that too and it has a nasty tendency to flake and float in little clouds, much to the disgust of senior NCOs. To paraphrase Gilbert and Sullivan, 'The squaddy's life is not a happy one!'

A nice salty cap indeed. No, peaked caps to the IA are no too common, though I expect a couple of our members have examples they may share. The leather lining is indeed odd - must have been hellish hot, I should think. As to the location of the hatter, it may be that his work was worth sending for, or that the owner was originally stationed in Madras Presidency when he bought it - on a course, with another regiment or even as second hand kit. Nice to see an Indian Army badge actually in situ, however. Thanks for sharing. Peter

Noor I wonder if a search throught the diplomatic section of the London Gazette [back issues] would turn up any reference to his activities or death in Vienna? P

Chris I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. If there are different badges on the tunic in his photos then I would assume a transfer at some point in his career. The divisional patch would be that of the formation to which his company was attached and the hammer and pinchers badge indicates that he was a fitter by trade, I think. Hope that is some help. Peter

Jock Hadn'rt realized this was a permanent change of station for you. Yes, i can see how 70 years of 'Let's not bin that just yet.' would add up to a whopping big pile of kit! Hope you find some real treasures! Peter

That has been the conventional wisdom, Leigh, but as Irish points out, the same logic should have distated that all mounted units wore balls instead of spikes so... you pays your money and takes your choice - safety, symbolism, or 'just because'.

I shall have to invetsugate when I am in Brussels in June. I believe we have a free day. Thanks for the information.

Zarmaniac - my interest is in more modern African medals than these but we have several expert members who I'm sure can help once they see this post. Mervyn, one of the senior moderators is resident in SA and ran a militaria shop there for years and Chris Boonzaier is also very expert on the South African wars and, I believe, reads Afrikkans, in which I suspect much of the information about this group is written. I'll direct their attention to this post and I'm sure they will have some suggestions. Mervyn may also want to move this post to the colonial wars forum, due to its nature but I'll leave that to him to decide. Peter

Ned, as I say, 'heard it from a bloke in a pub' or, in my case, read it in a novel. Apparently they were shortened and the scabbards likewise bobbed ans crimped shut. I can't imaghine they were very good machetes, but when the Nipponese were expected daily in northern Oz, it may have seemed like idea than turning them into tent pegs or steel ingots. Who can say what goes through the minds , if that's the right word, of army QMs? And if we could say, would we want to?

Nasty, flashy thing, Jock. Why not just bundle it up and post it off to me for decent burial? Seriously, it doesn't look that bad from where I'm sitting and I'm sure one of the members would be happy to take it off your hands, for spares, as you say, if nothing else. Your bins must be far more exotic than any I see over here in the frozen north! Peter

Impressive!

Aussiesoldie There is a reference in a novel by W.E.B. Griffin to the fact that the US military, at the outbreak of WWII shipped out 5 or 10 thousand sabres for the 26th Cavalry [Phillipine Scouts]. They never got farther than Australia where, after the 26th ate their horses and went into Japanse captivity, they were ground down to make machetes. Always meant to fllow that story up. It's one of those that sounds too bizarre to have been made up!

I have acquired a badge for an Austrian Great War Red Cross Volunteer: "FREIW. HILFSKRANKENPFLEGERIN" Vom Roten Kreuze. The reverse is marked 'F.Orth Wien' and the number '1749' Other than the fact that these volunteers assisted with the wounded as they arrived back home, can anyone cast light on this organization. And, pushing my luck, what are the chances that there is a registry of the numbers? Any help much appreciated. Peter

Wonderful stuff, Steve! Thanks for sharing. Is there a price list on your web site?

The other possibility, though it would be harder and more expensive to achieve, would be to get a few yards of cheap cotton and run up some cloth drawstring bags. Half an hour on a sewing machine would easily produce 20 bags, if you used a standard size, and twill tape makes good drawstrings. Use it myself for period looking bags for 19th century stuff. just be sure to launder the cloth first to get out any sizing and dye residue. Yo can then letter the bags in permanent marker or tie or staple tags to the strings or t a corner of the bag.

Perhaps the US Army Center of Military History? Contact detauils here: http://www.history.army.mil/inquire.html Four months ago I could have provided a name as well but Steve Allie, a fellow re-enactor and true gentleman died very suddenly in January within weeks of being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. RIP Steve.

I wondered, actually. I thought perhaps he was a [colonial] member of the German Imperial Army. Odd that an African army never occurred to me, I suppose, unreconstructed imperialist that I am!

Parker, RA if I'm reading the band lettering correctly. perhaps one of the UK members can suggest how likely it is that you'll be able to ID the owner. I suspect, sadly, that there were very likely more than one and possibly more than 10 Col. Parkers in a copr that large! A very quick Google turns up at least 3.

Bluerinse According to the Drawing Number on the label, what you have is a FS Type 1942 B-6 WW2 shearling flying helmet, as worn by the US Army Air Force [bomber] crews. Nice piece!

Bog standard WWII British gas mask, I think. Not expert enough to say whether it is military or civilian issue, though one of the members is sure to know. Looks to be in good shape; pity the case is missing. I wonder if that suggests civilian, as I think I recall that some of those actually went out in cardboard or press board containers early in the Blitz.