azyeoman

A couple of new badges. The heart shaped day badge dates from WWI, while the Canadian Berks Ellis (Sterling and enamel) badge is WWII.

Great additions! Great research and write ups! Thank you for sharing!

A quite rare German made PoW badge for Doeberitz with original case. The badge is made of silver and has blue and white enamel. The badge was designed by Mr. Cecil A. Tooke, O.B.E. who was a PoW at Doebertiz. He drew this coat-of-arms for his fellow prisoners showing three cartridges, representing three prisoners who had been shot; a skilly bowl, lampooning he deplorable "soup"; a sailor tied a post, showing the favorite German punishment, and a crossed pick and shovel. The motto, "Always Merry and Bright" is beneath the arms. The Germans thought the arms and motto were a heart-felt tribute to the amenities of the camp and wanted to use them for propaganda, and the Camp Comandant, Colonel Alberti congratulated Tooke and asked him to repeat the design for mass circulation. Berlin jewelers used in on all kinds of trinkets; e.g., the badge, Eventually the German War Office realized it was a sarcastic badge from an article in an English newspaper and after severe reprimands, the badge and trinkets were withdrawn. Post war, Tooke went on to design the coat of arms for the Auxiliary Fire Service. Please note that the badge is impressed with the silver content of 935, which is oddly higher than the usual 925.

A WWI photographic postcard of British PoWs beging trucked away by their German guards.

An seemingly common pair, but in reality, one that is quiet scarce to rare. A WWI pair named to G-11496 Pte. F. Hughes. The Queen's R. He was a PoW and after the war received the watch fob that was given to those who returned. It's scarce alone, to say the least, to find the fob, but to find it with the pair is rare. Frank Hughes is confirmed on page 41, line 22 of the Queen's PoW registry. He was from Camberwell, London. See the link for the Pdf below the photographs. In 1919, a reception was held in for 270 repatriated other rank PoWs from the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment in Guildford. A small commemorative medal, which could be worn on a watch-chain was given to each man. The Surrey Advertiser printed a list of the men of which most came from places within the regimental recruitment district or from within Surrey. There was a total of about 2,100 other ranks of the Queen's Regiment who were PoWs. Queens-Royal-West-Surrey-Regiment-Prisoners-of-War-1918.pdf

1914/15 Star, British War & Victory Medals, Long Service & Good Conduct Medal Royal Navy GV Third Type with a quantity of original documentation and copy photo to Private Edward White, Royal Marine Light Infantry a former Labourer born in Warblington, Emsworth, Hampshire in 1876. Attesting for the Royal Marines at Eastney in June 1894 he joined Portsmouth Division in February 1895. Serving ashore and afloat when War broke out he was serving at the Navigation School at Dryad as base security staff. Returning to Portsmouth Division in October 1915 he joined HMS Queen in October 1915 and the Submarine B11 in January 1916. Returning to Portsmouth Division in November 1916 he joined Defensively Armed Merchant Ships as a Gunner and was aboard the SS Corso when she was sunk by the German Submarine U-64 commanded by the U-Boat Ace Robert Morhat on 19th February 1917 in the Mediterranean 100 miles SW off Malta. Taken prisoner of war along with the Master and Chief Engineer he remained in captivity until December 1918. Demobilized in March 1919 he attested for HM Coastguard and served for 5 years. White slipped through the LSGC Medal net and was only awarded the LSGC Medal in 1935 when he applied for it. 1914/15 Star PO.7504 E White Pte RMLI British War & Victory Medals PO.7504 Cpl E White RMLI Long Service & Good Conduct Medal GV Royal Navy third type PO.7504 E White Pte RM The original documentation consists of: a copy photo (original given to the museum in 1986), two original parchment service certificates; one a continuation, and another original letter from the Admiralty dated 12 September 1935, which states, “Dear Mr White, I have to inform you that you have been awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal as from 1st January 1918. Consequent upon this award your pension has been increased to £62 7s a year for life, as indicated in the accompanying documents. The arrears due, calculated to the end of the current quarter and including £1 Good Conduct Gratuity amount to £51 7s 11d. Payment will be issued on you returning, in the enclosed envelope. The accompanying Life Certificate, duly completed, together with your old identity certificate. The medal will be issued to you in due course. Your certificates are returned herewith.” Addressed to Mr. E. White, No 5 Cottage, Lyneham near Chippenham, Wiltshire. Another original letter is thanking Mr. and Mrs. White for donating photographs to the RM Museum dated 27 June 1986, Protection and Identity Certificate dated 26 February 1919, two letters from the Admiralty to his wife Mrs. Marry Ann White, 253 Fawcett Road, Southsea one dated 1st March 1917 which states, “Madam, I regret to inform you that Edward White, Lance Corporal, RMLI, Divisional Number PO.7504, was serving in the SS Corso when that vessel was sunk by an enemy submarine on the 19th February and is reported to have been taken on board the submarine as prisoner of war. Any further information concerning him received will be communicated to you”. A second letter to his wife from the Admiralty dated 3rd December 1918 states, “Madam, with reference to previous correspondence from this Department respecting Edward White Lance Corporal RMLI official number PO.7504 late prisoner of war in Germany, I have to inform you that he has been released from captivity. He arrived in England on or about the 29th instant and has now proceeded on two months leave”. Most interesting are: White’s original German PoW identity certificate Brandenburg (Havel) Camp; HM Coastguard certificate of service listing his Stations; a receipt for legal costs when he submitted a malicious injury claim dated 14th June 1921 whilst serving at Sligo, Ireland; an application letter dated 29th April 1919 to join HM Coastguard; Trade Certificate, four German PoW postcards, and one letter whilst PoW, one letter posted from Venice, Italy and censored by SNO Venice whilst serving aboard HM Submarine B11. Edward White was born in Warblington, Emswoth, Hampshire. As an 18 year 2 month old Labourer, he attested for the Royal Marines at Eastney on12 June 1894 and joined the Recruit Depot at Walmer the very same day. On the outbreak of war White was serving at the Navigation School at Dryad, he subsequently joined HMS Queen on 23 October 1915, HM Submarine B11 on 1 January 1916, Portsmouth Division on 5 November 1916, President III for Defensively Armed Merchant Ships (as Gunner) on12th January 1917. On 19 February 1917 White was aboard the SS Corso transporting a general cargo from Bombay to Hull when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-64 commanded by the U-Boat Ace Robert Moraht. Moraht was awarded personally the PLM by the Kaiser and in total sank 45 ships, damaged three, took one as a prize and sunk one warship. White was taken prisoner aboard the U-Boat along with the ship’s Master, Chief Engineer and a second Gunner, and was held at PoW camps in Germany until released in December 1919. White was demobilized 26 March 1919, and later joined HM Coastguard on 8 May 1919 and served five years. In 1935 he applied for his Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, which should have been awarded in 1918, but slipped through the net. He was in possession of Five Good Conduct Badges in 1917. For more information on the wreck site, see: http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?141830 For more information on the U-64, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-64_(Germany) and also, http://uboat.net/wwi/men/commanders/213.html

Wow, Rob! That is wonderful! Thank you for posting this great find! :-D.

Finally, I have found one of these rare medals. Finally, I have found a rare original General Service Medal 1918 with clasp 'IRAQ' to a PoW captured at Hillah on 24 July 1920. Officially named to: 59425 Pte. O. MCCue. Manch R. Sadly his BWM and Victory are missing. Please contact if you know their whereabouts. Owen McCUE was born in 1899 at 20 Rose Street, Hutchestown, Glasgow, Scotland. He served in the Great War as Private 57425 of the 2nd Battalion The Manchester Regiment, serving in France and earning the British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal. He married Ann Graham Harris in Glasgow on 12.11.1918. He was discharged, but re-enlisted at Bonn, Germany on 23.2.1919 as Private 3512935 and re-joined the 2nd Bn. the Manchester Regiment. He went to Mesoptamia on 13.2.1920. His son, Joseph was born three days later. The 2nd Bn. were attacked near Hillah, Mesopotamia (Iraq) on 24.7.1920 and several Companies were decimated with multiple fatalities and about 76 men taken prisoner by the Arab attackers. Owen McCue was one of these POW's. During the action Captain George Stuart Henderson DSO, MC of the 2nd Bn. was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The POW's were released later in the year and McCue was discharged on 31.2.1922 at Preston residing at 39 Tobago Street, Glasgow. Civilian life clearly did not suit him as on 11.7.1923 he enlisted in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. This medal was awarded to him in 1925 when his marital address was given as 137 Drygatt, Agnes Terrace, Glasgow. He has no WW2 service noted. Much of his personal facts have been taken from his entry in the Manchester Regiment Enlistment Books. For an account of the battle, see: http://www.kaiserscross.com/304501/315743.html or: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_revolt_against_the_British Photos forthcoming. captured at hillah3513167 Edward harvey 3513113 e.fenton 17 dale st,miles platting3512230 charles,william mutters3512939 t.waddington,126 south st,openshaw3512492 albert giles3513394 a.jackson,161 tamworth st,brooks bar,manchester3513701 elijah millett,46 philip st,waterhead3513624 t.rogers,88 salisbury st,liverpool3513505 b.thomson3514116 james arnfield,lane head,lees,oldham3513841 g.ashton,26 higher duke st,miles platting3513049 h.baguley,jullulpore,india3513688 samuel,s banks,jullulpore,india3513716 joseph baron3513849 l beard3512810 henry blair3513069 j.blair 147 clifton st,brooks bar,manchester3514015 a.j brady,74 platt lane,scholes,wigan3513415 albert.jack brandreth,21 buckley rd,gorton3513466 george bromley,133 whiteacre rd,hurst3513074 george brown,12 boundary lane,notting hill,london3513619 ronald,r burgess,111 radnor st,hulme3513633 r.e buxton,15 herbert st,bradford,manchester3513798 w.cann,94 chatsworth st,edge hill,liverpoolt.charles[unknown]3513160 william clark 4 st.marys gate,preston3514074 m.collins,correct name Daniel Collins,wasnt capturedh.collinham[unknown]3512868 walter crooks,15 factory square,great yarmouth3512500 john,william currie,jullulpore,india3513625 j.e davies,499 grey mare lane,gorton3513258 t.davies or 3513253 t.davies3513956 a.c deakin,jullulpore3513952 r.devine,jullulpore3512415 joseph flynn,34 phoenix st,hulme3513693 william gallagher,65 miry lane,wigan3512969 h.gallimore,10 crook lane,wharton,winsford3513432 w.j grundy,106 towson st,everton3513847 william hallworth3513173 william harper,35 mona st,hulme3514064 charles,w hurley,91 king edward st,macclesfield3513839 c.j jennings,"shamrocks"hewell rd,barton green,birmingham3513300 e.johnson3512801 w.johnson,178 husband st,miles platting3513795 a.kershaw,113 garforth st,chadderton or 3512577 albert kershaw3513283 m.kinane3513796 f.lawrence,lanes farm,huxley,chester3513857 bob leigh,128 high st,pendleton3512935 owen mccue,39 tobago st,glasgow3513717 w.macdonald,68 artizan dwellings,salford3513263 r.mansfield3513642 john,t maudsley,ashleydene,whalley old rd,blackburn3513204 joseph morley,47 lees st,gorton3513932 j murphy3512909 thomas,h mylchreest,20 dalkeith st,liverpool3513828 w.oliver,51 stanley grove,longsight3513191 d.w owen,11 higham square,tyldesley3513392 charles.arthur phillips,33 larksville st,cherry orchard,shrewsbury3513155 p.pinder,6 bold st,st.helens3513206 james povey,71 ogden lane,openshaw3513720 edward rudd,19 sovereign rd,wigan3512747 william rushton,15 newport st,burnley3514379 e.russell3513790 w.smith 15 whittle st,kirkdale,liverpoolg.w schofield[unknown]3513131 t.spence,6 dyehouses,royton3513150 bob sutton,high st,bottesford,nottingham3513683 charles thomas,8 amhurst st,cardiff3512815 james tucker,32 pownall st,hulme3513564 a.walker,bank house,kirby in furness or 3513115 a.e walker,76 mytton st,hulme3513116 a.walmsley,11 ridgefield st,failsworth3512681 joseph,p welsh,11 george st,hulme3514032 e.wheatcroft,34 garibaldi st.ardwick3514339 francis[frank] white,32 forbes st,edge hill,liverpool[died on 6th oct 1920]3513870 john winspear3514069 f.yates,9 walker st,thornby on tees,yorkshire

1914/15 Star, named to: R.M.A. 7837 F.BAILEY GR. R.V.A. and unfortunately separated from its BWM and Victory.Gnr. Frank Bailey was born in 1880 in Leicester.He joined the Royal Marine Artillery in 1898 and qualified as a Master Gunner. He served for 12 years until 1910 when he was transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve. He was remobilised in August 1914, and served on the SS Carmania from 13 August 1914 until 31 Dec 1916. It is noted in the wounds and hurts column that he was aboard the Carmania during the action with the German Armed Cruiser the RMS Cap Trafalgar, which had taken on the appearance of the Carmania. This was a famous action between two former luxury Liners in which the Carmania sunk the Cap Trafalgar, suffering much damage and many casualties. This incident was the subject of a book: "The Ship that Hunted Itself" by Colin Simpson (Penguin 1977). Bailey then served on H.M.S. Revenge from 24 August 1916 until the 31 December 1916. He was then demobilised for Defensibly Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS), and served on the SS Cheltonian. On 8 June 1917, while en route from Genoa to Oran in ballast, Cheltonian was captured in the Mediterranean by a German U-Boat U72 and was sunk by gunfire. At the time, the steamer of 4,426 tonnes was 54 miles W by S from Planier Lighthouse. The Master and Gunner Bailey were taken PoW, and the rest of the crew survived also. Papers include a letter from the Accountant General to The Adjutant General Royal Marines stating that Bailey was a prisoner of War and interned at Brandenburg, Germany, and that his Wife had been informed. For more information on the wreck see: http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?149503 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_June_1917 For information on U72 see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-72

1939/45 Star, War Medal Unnamed as issued General Service Medal GVI clasp Malaya 22276128 Sgt R G Loadman RA Confirmed as PoW on Royal Artillery attestation leger entries and also confirming change in number upon re-enlistment. A copy newspaper article from The Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette dated 20 August 1940, reports him as POW with picture The copy War Office casualty list entries verify his PoW status. Ralph Gowland Loadman was born in Sunderland in 1918, he attested for the Royal Artillery in 1935 and serving as a Gunner and Driver with 68th Field Regiment (No 853755) was taken Prisoner of War in May/June 1940, no specific date is recorded on the War Office casualty return; although he was initially reported missing on 24.6.1040. He was held at Kanua Kz Sprottau/Sagan POW camp (POW number 18541) he was repatriated in 1945 and discharged. Re-enlisting 29th April 1949 (No 22276128) he served in Malaya as a Sergeant. He died in Wokingham, Berkshire in 1998.

You don't often see mounted pairs like this with a tailor tag. What a well mounted group, but then it's a Godet! ;-)

A nice trio with the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross.

A nice trio with a Hamburg Hanseatic cross - court mounted and with tailor's tag is the latest acquisition.

An older pre WWI Godet. An exceptionally nice officer's WWI bar by J H Werner.

Chipping away at acquiring all the clasps; just found a "Belfort".

Congratulations on such a great find, and thank you for the excellent and interesting article from your excellent research. This man's good deeds will love on because of your work!

A scarce FEPOW Glasgow pinback lapel badge. Nicely stamped in bronze with red and green enamel. Three Australian pinback PoW lapel badges. The middle rectangular one numbered 10871 is a deep mid-night blue rather than black and was made by "AMDR / Sydney"

Another commonwealth medal to a PoW in the British Indian Army. Sadly this is missing seven other decorations and medals, which make up the remainder of the group. An India General Service Medal 1908 with clasp North-West Frontier 1930-31 awarded to a long service NCO. Correctly impressed: Jemdr Painda Khan 2-13 FFR Painda Khan served during the First World War with the 87th Punjabis as an OR and left the army after the war. In 1929 he returned to the army and was commissioned and served on probation with the 2-13th FFR on the North West Frontier of British India where he earned his IGS 1908 and clasp. He transferred to the 5/2nd Punjab Regiment where he remained until the late 1930s when he retired with the rank of Subadar. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, he returned to the 5/2nd Punjab Regiment and was appointed Subadar-Major on the day he rejoined. Subadar-Major Painde Khan served during the Malayan Campaign was taken PoW following the surrender of Singapore. While a PoW, he was made an Honorary Lieutenant. After his release, he was appointed Honorary Captain and awarded an Order of British India (OBI) and MBE (mentioned the Golden Galley) for his services during captivity. See: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/iss ... ement/1950

I can't either.

This is one of the best items in your collection. What an excellent job of research too. Thank you for posting this rare group!

Boer War stereocard photos of PoWs and guards. B.W. Kilburn 1900 - 13817 "Tommy Atkins" South African Home, Nootgedacht Prison, S.A. B.W. Kilburn 1900 - 13821 Some of England's Nobility in Nooitgedacht Prison. Showing Mr. Goshcen (central figure) Nephew of first Lord of Admirality, S.A. B.W. Kilburn 1900 - 13818 The Boer Guards at Nooitgedacht Prison, S.A. B.W. Kilburn 1900 - 14133 Boers on Guard at Nooitgecacht Prison, S.A. Underwood 1900 - "Mud Hall" Prison, where the British Officer Prisoners were kept by the Boers, S.A. Underwood 1900 - Interior of "Mud Hall" the last prison occupied by the British Officers at Pretoria, S.A. Underwood 1901 - British Prisoners released by Boers, marching into Pretoria after its Capture, to be re-armed, S. Africa

Another Commonwealth PoW pair to a South African. 11097 Pte. V.G. Wright, 4th S. African Infantry. Died while a PoW on 24 April 1918 and buried in Plot 8, Row C, grave 13 in Cologne Southern Cemetery. Cologne Southern Cemetery (from the CWGC) More than 1,000 Allied prisoners and dozens of German servicemen were buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery during the First World War. Commonwealth forces entered Cologne on 6 December 1918, less than a month after the Armistice, and the city was occupied under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles until January 1926. During this period the cemetery was used by the occupying garrison. In 1922 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries at Kassel, Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne. Over the course of the following year, graves were transferred to Cologne Southern Cemetery from over 180 different burial grounds in Hanover, Hessen, the Rhine and Westphalia. There are now almost 2,500 First World War servicemen buried or commemorated in the Commonwealth plots at Cologne. The Cologne Memorial, located inside the shelter building at the entrance to the Commonwealth plots, commemorates 25 British and Irish servicemen who died in Germany and who have no known grave. Of these, 19 are known to have died as prisoners but their places of burial are not recorded. The remaining six died after the Armistice by drowning and their bodies were not recovered. The Commonwealth section of the cemetery also contains over 130 Second World War graves, mostly those of servicemen who died with the occupying forces. There are, in addition, 676 non-war graves and 29 burials of other nationalities. Commonwealth Prisoners of War in Germany during the First World War Between the outbreak of war in August 1914 and the Armistice of November 1918, the German forces captured almost 300,000 Commonwealth servicemen on the Western Front. Approximately one third of these prisoners were held in German occupied territory in France and Belgium, but most were transported to camps located throughout Germany. In common with the other belligerent states, Germany was poorly equipped to house, feed and clothe large numbers of enemy troops, but prisoners of war had been granted certain rights under international agreements established at Geneva in 1864 and at The Hague in 1899 and 1907. The Red Cross also monitored conditions in the camps and ensured that food, clothing, and personal correspondence sent from Britain was safely delivered to prisoners. In June 1917, and again in July 1918, the British and German governments agreed to exchange prisoners who were too badly wounded to fight again, and hundreds of prisoners were repatriated through the Netherlands. Finally, the fear that the thousands of German prisoners in Britain and France would be mistreated in retaliation meant that Allied POWs often enjoyed quite humane treatment. This was especially the case for officer prisoners, who were segregated into separate camps and not forced to work. Despite these various checks on the mistreatment of prisoners, conditions in German camps varied widely and as many as 12,000 Commonwealth servicemen died in captivity. Some of these men were badly wounded when taken prisoner and died shortly after arriving in Germany. Some prisoners also died as a result of violence perpetrated by their captors, but although violence was common, particularly during the first year of the war, the killing of prisoners was rare. Non-commissioned officers and privates were often forced to work and some died of exhaustion or accidents while labouring in coalmines, stone quarries or steel works. Yet by far the most common cause of prisoner death in wartime Germany was disease. Prisoners weakened by wounds, poor diet, or fatigue were particularly susceptible to the effects of disease and an outbreak of typhus in 1915 and the influenza epidemic of 1918 had a devastating effect on the Allied prisoner population. The Cologne Memorial The memorial takes the form of panels set inside the north shelter building at the entrance to the Commonweatlh plots in Cologne Southern Cemetery. It commemorates 25 servicemen of the United Kingdom who died in Germany and who have no known grave. Of these, 19 are known to have died as prisoners and their places of burial are not recorded. The other six died after the Armistice by drowning and their bodies were not recovered. *The following cemeteries are among those from which graves were brought to Cologne: AACHEN MILITARY CEMETERY, 197 burials of sailors 1914-1919. BONN (POPPELSDORF) CEMETERY, 133 service and one civilian burial, all of 1919. The 47th General Hospital and the 21st Casualty Clearing Station were posted at Bonn. BUDERICH (FORT BLUCHER) PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, 39 burials of 1914-1919. COBLENZ FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY, KARTHAUSE, 59 burials of 1915-1918. Coblenz was occupied by United States troops in December 1918. DORTMUND SOUTH-WESTERN CEMETERY, 53 burials of 1914-1918. DUISBURG TOWN CEMETERY, 35 burials of 1914-1919. DULMEN PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, 96 burials of 1915-1918. DUREN NEW TOWN CEMETERY, 79 burials, mostly of 1919. The 11th Stationary Hospital and the 17th Casualty Clearing Station were posted at Duren. DUSSELDORF NORTH CEMETERY, 24 burials of 1915-1918. ESSEN SOUTH-WESTERN CEMETERY, 21 burials of 1917-1918. EUSKIRCHEN NEW TOWN CEMETERY, 75 service and one civilian burials of 1918-1919. The 42nd Stationary Hospital and the 47th Casualty Clearing Station were posted at Euskirchen. FRIEDRICHSFELD PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, 70 burials of 1916-1918. FRIEMERSHEIM CEMETERY, 20 burials of 1918. GELSENKIRCHEN WEST CEMETERY, 21 burials of 1917-1918. GEROLSTEIN MILITARY CEMETERY, 25 burials of 1918. JULICH MILITARY, 39 burials of 1915-1918. MULHEIM-AM-RUHR OLD TOWN CEMETERY, 49 burials of 1915-1918. MUNSTER (HAUSPITAL) PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, 161 burials of 1914-1918. RECKLINGHAUSEN PROTESTANT, CATHOLIC AND SOUTH CEMETERIES, 26 burials of 1916-1918. TRIER TOWN CEMETERY, 48 burials of 1917-1918.

Three more lapel pins for helping PoWs. The two rectangular ones are WWII and I believe the Red Cross one is WWI.

A king's crown brass and enamel Ex-Prisoners of War lapel badge with brooch-pin fitting with makers details for Parkes Brisbane on the reverse. A crowned section of barbed wire with the letters "NSW" above the title scroll,"Ex-Prisoners of War Assn." For more information on this PoW Association, please see: http://www.rhkrnsw.org/ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/531286c0e4b04bcb37e6c5c5/t/53213ea2e4b0a9d8ad053aca/1394687650695/HK+Vol+%26+ex+PoW+Assn+NSW.+OP4+Veteran+members.pdf

WWI Pair to Private Crawford wounded at St.Julien & Tortured as a PoW British War Medal (17209 PTE. J. CRAWFORD. 7-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (17209 PTE. J. CRAWFORD. 7-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, original ribbon and scattered surface wear on the VM, pitting on the BWM, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records, Pay Records, Discharge Certificates and assorted research papers. Footnote: John Crawford was born on September 10, 1882 in Anfield Plains, County Durham, England. He immigrated to Canada in 1910 and on the 1911 Census, was listed as residing as a "lodger" in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He enlisted as a Private (17209) with the 7th Infantry Battalion "1st British Columbia Regiment", on September 2, 1914 at Kamloops, British Columbia, before travelling east and departing for service in Europe. Crawford signed his Attestation Paper, on September 23, 1914 at Camp Valcartier, at the age of 32, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Joseph Crawford of Medomsley, Durham, England, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single and that his trade was that of Coal Miner. The Battalion was raised in British Columbia and mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec under the authority of P.C.O. 2067, August 6, 1914, sailing on October 3, 1914 with a strength of 47 officers and 1,176 other ranks, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. Hart-McHarg, arriving in England ten days later. The following month, on November 20th, he was charged with "Overstaying Pass", and punished with stoppage of eighteen days' pay and forced to forfeit nine days' pay. Private Crawford, 7th Infantry Battalion, entered the French theatre on February 2, 1915. Eleven weeks later, he was wounded and gassed during the Battle of St. Julien, part of the Second Battle of Ypres. He was initially reported missing on April 24, 1915, then officially reported as a Prisoner of War at Giessen three weeks later, on May 15th. He was treated for a bullet wound to the head, as well as for the gassing, transferred to Langen-Moor Camp, followed by his internment at Soltau, on September 8, 1916. After over three and a half years as a Prisoner of War, upon the ceasing of hostilities, Crawford was repatriated and arrived in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England on December 27, 1918. However, his treatment as a Prisoner of War at Soltau was anything but humane. He was interviewed by British authorities after his release from captivity, the interviewer filing a stunning report on his behalf: "Brutal treatment of the most deliberate description fell to the lot of Private Crawford, a British Columbian at Langen-Moor Camp in March, 1916. On one occasion he was flung into a cell without excuse and attacked by a German "Feldwebel" (Sergeant), who used his fists and the butt of a rifle on his helpless victims. Crawford also describes the brutal attitude of the authorities at the same camp to Petty Officer Grovet who was bayoneted, struck with rifles and ultimately died at Soltau. This Canadian makes no complaint regarding his early treatment. Brutality began for him at Langen. An aggravating plan of Crawford's case is that he was sent to this camp having been adjudged unfit to work by a Belgian doctor at Lichtenborst. The specific treatment of ill-treatment that Crawford describes took place a few days after a general disturbance caused by the refusal of the Britishers to do the heavy work asked of them. It is noted that these men, all certified "Unfit" had been given the inquiries that they were being despatched to a convalescent camp. Crawford reported sick the following day. He had an injured ankle which had swollen in alarming manner as a result of the work he had been forced to do. About noon, a German Feldwebel accompanied by two sentries, dragged the Canadian from his billet, swore at him, thrust him in a small narrow cell and deprived him of all his clothing but pants and undervest. This despite Crawford's plea and efforts to show his attacker the state of is injured part. Thus he was left all night. Next morning, the Feldwebel and his men returned and greeted him as "English swine". Crawford stood up and was immediately knocked to the floor of the cell by the Feldwebel, who then secured a rifle and stuck his victim three times on the face with the butt, knocking two teeth out and breaking the little finger of Crawford's right hand. This brute went away, locked the door of the cell and returned within a few minutes to spit upon Crawford and again revile him as "English swine". Crawford was kept in this cell for ten days. The first two days he had no food. During the rest of the time he received a daily portion of black bread and water. This punishment was the sole work of the Feldwebel whom Crawford describes as a heavily-built man, weighing 180 pounds; height, 5 ft. 11 inches; age about 38; fair complexion; heavy red moustache. This man was at Langen-Moor from March to June, 1916, to Crawford's knowledge." In addition, the interviewer described what Crawford had witnessed in regards to the treatment of a fellow inmate: "Regarding the late Petty Officer Garrett of the Maori (or Crusader, taken captive during the evacuation at Dunkirk), Crawford states that he was beaten many times with rifles, and bayoneted from behind by sentries. He died a few days later at Soltau. The attack on the prisoner, nationality not stated nor suggested, took place immediately after a scene on parade in which British prisoners and an armed German guard of 25 bayonets took part. The Britishers, all convalescents, were ordered to do heavy work and refused. The sentries were called out and attempted to drive them by rush tactics. Apparently, Garrett, who was serious, was considered the ring-leader of a conspiracy." Crawford was subsequently posted to the British Columbia Regimental Depot, then taken on strength of the 1st Canadian Reserve Battalion at Seaford, Sussex on February 28, 1919. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated March 27, 1919 at Seaford, he was diagnosed with a small "Umbilical Hernia", the origin traced to January 1916, while he was in Germany and was "probably the result of a bad cough which he had (for) a time". The doctor noted that the hernia, although small, "at times it gets larger and is painful especially on bending over". While a Prisoner of War, he "was given a bandage to put on". However, on the plus side, there were no symptoms of gas present in his chest wall. It was determined by the Medical Board that the disability was permanent unless an operation was performed. He was declared Unfit for General Service (Category A) and designated for return to Canada, struck off strength to the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park for return to Canada on April 5th, embarking for home on the 12th. Crawford was discharged upon demobilization on April 26, 1919, at Dispersal Station "T", Military District No. 11, in Vancouver, British Columbia, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge Class "A", number 174178. He applied for a War Service Gratuity and stated that he intended to reside at the Newcastle Hotel in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He died on May 5, 1951, at the age of 68.