Jef

Hello Hugh, Belgian 2nd Bn. Commando ( green berets). Bronze for troopers, silver for NCO's and gold coloured badges for officers, Jef

Hello Hugh, Bronze badge for privates ROAC ( Royal Army Ordnance Corps)post WWII Jef

Hello Will, Thank you for your answer about the snake buckle belt. Much appreciated. Kind regards, Jef

Hello Dave, I'm really impressed by your knowledge about these snake buckles.Thank you for sharing your knowledge. About the misspelling of my name, don't worry. Kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Hello Lukasz, Thank you for your crystal clear information. Kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Hello Lukasz, I was interested by your information on the breast star. In my collection I have this lower class cross without a ribbon. What class is it and what kind(colours) of ribbon do I need? Kind regards, Jef

Hello again Martin, Have been looking in this website http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilvermarksXCDUE.html and I found this:see pic. Is this the mark CR over WS on your snake? It's a London Hallmark of 1841. CR stands for Charles Rawlings, WS for William Summers. Graham thank you for your answer, most helpful. Kind regards, Jef

Hello Martin, Thank you for your interest in this topic. Birmingham was well known for its engravers, medal-, badge- and buttonmakers. In general for its copper and brass wares. Never heard these snakes also exist in silver. Kind regards, Jef

Hello again, Rittmeister, I still have been looking for the buttons and look what I found in http://www.histoire-collection.com/catalog_300.html . I think this button is the one you are looking for: Infanterie Marine/Infanterie Coloniale. I was wrong to think about Belgian buttons, sorry. If the buttons belong to the greatcoat, there is a big chance the greatcoat is French. I'm sure there are gentlemen on this forum who knows more about French Naval Units than I do, maybe they can confirm this. kind regards, Jef

Hello Rittmeister, Indeed, the buttons shows a navy motives. I have been looking in http://www.knopfsammler.de/main_index.html and I could not find the buttons you showed. Most of the navy buttons have a crowned anchor. The anchor in fantasy buttons have often a ropeshaped border. However, buttons of the Belgian Infantry of the Line used in 1914 almost the same ornament, altough there is a little difference.And of course the number of regiment is changed into an anchor.... I used a pic of the knopfsammler website. I was not able to find French navy buttons. Maybe we have to look in that direction? Sorry, I couldn't be more helpful. Jef

Hello Rittmeister, http://www.freewebs.com/abl1940/overjassenenmantels.htm is a good website to compare the photographs. In fact I never saw a Belgian overcoat with a seam under the chin, between the upper buttons. And the upper buttons are hidden under the collar. I have put an overcoat on my scanner: A lot of Belgian soldiers were released from POW camp late 1940 and returned home. Others stayed longer in Germany or Austria. I have in my collection a uniform of my late neighbour. He had to work in Austria on roadworks till 1942. His Belgian uniform was totally worn out. He told me he received other clothes from the Red Cross: it's a British Battle Dress from 1938 and a Polish trouser. In these clothes he got home in 1942. Maybe the overcoat in your pic is also a captured piece of uniform? Kind regards, Jef

And another view which must have been familiar to your father in law. Best wishes, Jef

Hello again, During my search for a photograph I found these pics. It's chateau des Rosiers in Vlamertinghe. Before and during the war. I must say it's a bit confusing.... Did your father in law mentioned the name of the castle? Jef

Hello Jim, Enclosed is a pic of the castle before WWI.Sorry no damage yet. Jef

Hello Jasmore, The Chateau is situated in the hospitaalstraat in Vlamertinge. It was built in 1857-1858 for viscount Pierre-Gustave du Parc by architect J. Schadde of Antwerp. During WWI the castle was occupied by different allied units. In this way the castle and its property became a German target. It was restored in 1920 by V. Carron of Ardooie. Recently I learned R. Duflou wrote several publications of Vlamertinge. I hope i will be able to find the requested information. Meanwhile i add a pic of Vlamertinge village. I'm sure this environment was familiar to your father-in-law. With kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Hello Jasmor, You are quite right, the first pic i sent was the castle of Elverdinge, a village nearby. I continue to look for a wartime pic of Vlamertinge castle. Sorry to bring you on a wrong track. Kind regards, Jef enclosed is a pic of the backside of the castle

Hello Jasmor, I found the pic on the internet, i will look for the link. Jef attached is the frontside, will make a scan of the backside from a postcard in my collection

Hello Jasmor, Attached is a pic of the castleruins. After the war, the castle was restored. I don't know if you want pics of the castle in the thirties? regards, Jef

Dear Bovec, Jeff and Emanuel, Thank you for your answers. We are quite sure about the St. Sava of Capt. Jett. He got this medal together with a Serbian Red Cross medal. My friends were told that Private Garwood also received a St. Sava. But Patrick and Chris were not able to find more information. Now, I know why. @Emanuel, Patrick is doing fine. Chris and Patrick are working on this book about six years. They asked me to read the manuscript... almost 700 pages of detailed information. They did a tremendous job, there is a review about every doughboy buried or commemorated in this cemetery. I wish them every succes with the book. Again, many thanks for your help, Jef

Hello Gents, I was wondering if someone of you have a list of recipients of the Order of St Sava? Two close friends of mine are going to publish a book in the near future about the American Cemetery Flanders Fields, Waregem, Belgium. It was told two Americans connected to this cemetery have the Order of St Sava, I'm afraid I don't know which class. Private Roy F. Garwood,N°1750082 Co K. 148th Inf. Rgt., 37th Division. KIA 2/11/1918, Buried in Flanders Fields Belgium Captain Richard L. Jett, Medical Reserve Corps att.BEF, KIA 13/4/1918. Commemorated on the Wall of Missing Flanders Fields, Waregem Belgium. I would be very grateful if someone could verify this. Kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Hello, Special for your data base. Attached is a pic of the bronze medal( back side) and the gold medal (front side).This is a non official medal Kind regards, Jef

Hello Tim, Have you ever tried this address: http://www.eekelers-centini.be/catalog/ind...hp/cPatch/32_37 kind regards, Jef

Hello Roeland, Is this the medal you are asking for? F?d?ration Royale des Ex-Sous Officiers de 'l Arm?e Belge/ Koninklijke Federatie van Oud-Onderofficieren van het Belgisch Leger. It's a non official medal. Kind regards, Jef http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2008/post-761-1230481863.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2008/post-761-1230481888.jpg

Hello again,Kvat. You can find a website, I'm afraid in Dutch, at www.onderscheidingen.nl/nl/index.html. . I saw the medal could be awarded by police, fire brigade, National reserve Corps, Dutch Red Cross, Volunteers Nederlandse Antillen..... So far, I wasn't able to find a dutch website with English section. Maybe a Dutch user gentleman might help? Kind regards, Jef