Jef

Hello Scotplenn,

For your information: Close friends of mine ( Chris Sims/Patrick Lernout) published a book about the American WW I cemetery in Waregem, Belgium with stories of 393 men buried or commemorated in Belgium. You never know if you ever need info on one of these men. This book ( 632 pages) is published in dutch, but will be translated in your language.

kind regards from Flanders,

Jef

Hello Mervyn,

I think Guy is right. Philippe a user of the Belgian ABL Forum pointed in the direction of the Dutch Marine Corps ( Koninklijk Korps Mariniers). I found this in a Dutch Marine Webshop.... It is not exactly the same but according to Philippe a lot of countries uses the ancre for their Naval Forces. Very few countries have a badges where the crown and ancre are in one piece. The Netherlands are one of these countries.

First pic is a badge, second are barets with the badges attached.

Hope this is OK,

Jef

Jef - I think it will be very helpful to identify this - so, yes please - see if you can get it identified?

Mervyn,

I have put your question on a Belgian ( ABL)Forum, so far no answer. Keep your fingers crossed...

Jef

That's right, Mervyn. Every day at 8.00 PM sharp the last post sounds in the Menin Gate.

Jef

- we will just have to hope someone will recognise it ? Mervyn

Hello Mervyn,

If no one does, I can put it on your behalf on a Belgian forum , if you want to...

Jef

Hello Mervyn,

Have a quite detailed book about Belgian military badges (1830-2010) and I'm afraid this badge is not in the list. Maybe it's a civilian souvenir or a more modern badge???

Kind regards,

Jef

The broken crosses are occasionnally observed on the Sainte-Helene Medal.

Some were certainly broken accidentally, others were possibly removed deliberately. There may have been an explaination to this, but I have never come across anything very convincing.

It's up to each of us to decide how they feel about such medals.

Thank you for your answer, Veteran.

Jef

Hello,

Have a medal with a strange kind of damage. The ball suspender lost its tiny latin cross, although this is not a very fragile part.

Kind regards,

Jef

Hello Nick,

Thank you for your answer. In fact I was expecting a negative answer because of the backside. It is made in Brussels by Fibru Fish. But I don't know for what purpose..; Maybe Expo '58 ( world show 1958) I don't know.

Attached is a pic of the back side.

Kind regards from Flanders,

Jef

Hello Gents,

Recently a friend of mine got this pin. He was told it has something to do with the Order of the Rising Sun.

I was wondering if someone could affirm this.

Kind regards,

Jef

Hello Jef

The bottle is not an official pattern. Bottles of this type were purchased in quantity by the British authorities from Canada to make up shortfalls in the production of the standard pattern. They were made by the Aluminium Goods Company and the few I have seen are dated 1914 or 1915 under the felt. This one is 1914. They are often seen in photographs, particularly during the first half of the war.

Regards,

William

Hello William,

Well that explains the not official pattern waterbottle. Thank you for explanation.

Jef

Hello William,

Thank you for showing the '14 Pattern equipment with the snake buckle. By the way, I have several water bottles in my collection but never saw a waterbottle like yours. Is this a regular standard waterbottle?

kind regards,

Jef

Hello Dave,

No I was not able to find more snakes or information about those snakebucklebelt except on this great forum. Still wondering where it's origins come from.

Jef

These pics are taken from the splendid book of Urbain Huyghebaert "Evolutie van de Belgische Militaire kentekens 1830-2010" ( 330 pages, April 2010).

Hope the info is useful.

first pic, collar badges and cap badge of a Judge -advocate 1914

Second pic: different collar,beret, peaked cap and shoulder badges.

kind regards,

Jef

I also would like to reccomend this wonderfull website: http://www.abbl1940.be/index.html

Scroll to Kentekens, attributen, then go down to militair gerecht ( = military court)

Hello Mervyn,

Attached are some drawnings of modern collar badges, different ranks, I found. Will add some more pics in other post.

Jef

hello Bill,

According to the the book : Evolutie van de Belgische Militaire kentekens 1830- 2010( Evolution Belgian Militay Badges 1830-2010) it's Belgian military court, a shoulder badge for soldiers and corporals.

Kind regards,

Jef

From the 22nd Bn, War Diary;-

Ref. Map TOURNAI No.5

8th November 1918;-

"Weather very wet. Battn still in support. Made preparations for an attack on Canal. Moved forward to leap frog R.I.F., but found the enemy had evacuated the position East of the Canal."

1 O/R wounded 8/11/1918

9th November 1918 - 0650;-

"Erected bridges and crossed the Canal, obtained our objectives, by 0600 hrs. The objective was line of Railway from V.22.d.3.7 to V 15.b.9.9.. Remainder of day was spent in patrolling."

10th November 1918;-

"Examining Posts were posted at every exit from ANTOING, which we had occupied and Scouts made systamatic search of all likely places for any Bosche, who may have been left behind."

11th November 1918 - 1100;-

"Coy's at disposal of Coy Commanders. Armistice commenced."

Thank you, Graham. Great information

Jef

Hello Gents,

Is there someone who owns the regimental histories or war diaries of the 22nd Bn Royal Nothumberland Fusiliers?

I'm looking for information on the 22nd battalion on 8,9, 10 and 11 November 1918. I'm making a study on the last days of the war on the frontline of the Second and Fifth Armies. 22/NF were part of the 16th Div, I don't know if they were on duty or in reserve.

Kind regards from Flanders,

Jef

Still have a question about this medal. Some time I found this one, it's a coin with the same measures of the medal. I'm quite sure the suspender has not been removed. I'm wondering what it is?

Jef

Maybe I can add the document of a first type. Sorry my scanner was too small.

Jef

Hello Patrick,

I use my Trench Maps in conjuction with my War diaries. In this way I can translate mapcoördinates into placenames . Trench maps are indispensable when using War diaries. Mine are only copies, when you have the authentic maps then it's always more special.

Kind regards from Flanders,

Jef

Hello Lambert,

Some time ago ( maybe two years, time goes fast) I put similar medal on this forum to ID. I never got an answer. Hope this time it works. On my ribbin there was a big Z. Mine is number 181.Don't know if it's french? I might be belgian too????

Kind regards,

Jef

Medal of National Federation of the Volunteers of the Wars of 1914-1918/1940-1945 (Médaille de la Fédération Nationale des Volontaires de Guerre de 1914-1918/1940-1945 / Medaille van de Nationale Federatie der Oorlogsvrijwilligers de 1914-1918/1940-1945)

Circular gilt bronze medal with laterally pierced loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the helmeted heads of two soldiers facing right, that on the left wearing a World War II Mark 2 helmet, that on the right wearing a World War I Adrian type helmet; the reverse plain; on original ribbon mounted for wear. This is an unofficial medal issued by the National Federation of the Volunteers of the Wars of 1914-1918/1940-1945, one of the veterans organisations that sprang up to represent the interests of veterans, to provide mutual aid in case of need and to maintain the social links forged in wartime.

Source: medal-medaille

Hello Noor,

I'm afraid this is wrong information you found. Enclosed is the medal and docs ( medal and star separately) of my late uncle. It's a medal of gratitude from the NSB ( Belgian veteran organisation)

kind regards,

Jef

Hello Gents,

Was wondering if someone could recommend me a good book about British rivercross equipment during WWI. I already found info about types of bridges, but would like more info about boats, rafts, pontoons.

With kind regards and thanks,

Jef

normally have my "eeezy-guide" in my bag, but not today... can anyone help me before I get home?

27 bavarian Inf Regt... which division?

Thanks

Chris

22Bayern Bde. , 12th Bayern Division

jef