Craig

Those truncheons are beautiful but alas in this changing world most forces in the UK carry the American Asp. Though the BTP have an American style night stick. The painted Victorian ones are heavily copied inthe UK and you can usualy find them at most antique fairs so if you are thinking of buying one make sure you get its history. The tipstaffs are still used but as an emblem on badge ranks for senior officers. In the Metropolitan Police in London officers with the Rank of commander and above have an emblem of 2 crossed tipstaves in a laurel wreath. Each rank above adds an extra piece. Craig

Christophe, Was there a medal or other type of award given to the Companions? Craig

I had the pleasure of sitting in a corridor on my own for 6 hours stopping people entering the charge room in order to try and get Eric Cantonas autograph after his Kung Fu display. Though of course he was treated like everyone else though many a time I've had the charge room door opened for me by a Ch. Supt 2 Supts and 3 CI. He was a nice bloke though shocking dress sense though.

There is a story about a P.C who retired a few years ago from The Palace of Westminster. He was a probationer at the Old Cannon Row when they looked after Parliment. One day he was told to stand at point by the Members cloak room. He was never given another posting and spent a very happy 30 years gaurding the members rain coats.

Thanks for that post Darrell very brave men. We had a show in the UK about 10 years ago called "Black Box" which featured different types of air crashes Mechanical failure, Pilot error, terroisim etc. On board the Air Florida flight was a qualified pilot for this type of aircraft. As they started the take off he could tell that ice from the wings was being sucked into engines and they would freeze. He thought the pilot would abort but when they passed the point of no return he told the woman passenger sitting next to him to take up the crash position saving there lives. I have also heard though I don't know if its an urban myth or not that one of the rescuers took his life years later due to depression brought on by the accident. I don't know if anyone has heard this?

I have also been to No 1 London the silver display that was used at Waterloo Anniversery Dinners is incredible. Another good spot but not well known is the Regimental Museum of The Duke of Wellington Rgiment in Halifax West Yorkshire. In here they have numerous personal items of the Duke including the Camp Bed he used during The Waterloo Campaign and his boots. Also the National Army Museum in Chelsea has the Diarama made several years after the Battle of Waterloo. Its not very accurate as the modeller was paid by officers present to enhance their role!! There is also one of Copenhagens hoofs there as well.

The Desert Air Force was first equipped with Spitfires in February 1942 flying from Heliopolis Egypt. The Desert Air Force reached a strength of 3 Squadrons of Spits and one Squadron of Hurricanes. The Spitfire Squadrons 145 Squadron Code Sign ZX Disbanded Treviso Italy 1945 Reformed 1952 flying Vampire jets 92 Squadron Code Sign QJ Converted to Meteor Jets in January 1947 601 Squadron Code Sign UF/RAH Disbanded Bellaria Italy 7th May 1945 Reformed 10th May 1946 converted to Vampire Jets November 1949 The period the Spitfire was shot down it would have been a Mark VB/C. Hope this helps

Great photo Gerd better than mine taken on my mobile phone Rick, What were the chances that the Bolshevicks had a form of Embassy in the UK though not offically recognised by GB. Just a thought! I will have another tour of the cemetery when I am at work and see if there are any other Soviet graves. But maybe not tonight a bit dark and spooky for my liking Craig

I hope this has found the right forum! This week I was working in Brompton Road Cemetery Chelsea London. This is a an old cemetery with many famous occupants of Britians Imperial age with a great amount of war graves. It was the cemetary for the Gaurds Regiments before filling up. Away from the main war grave areas I discovered the following war Grave ( I have a photo but I am a computer dunce and don't know how to put this on the computer) It is of regulation British construction of white stone. Where the Regimental crest is placed is a Soviet star with the inscription Colonel V.Z STEPANOFF SOVIET FORCES 18th FEBRURARY 1918. Can anyone shed light why he was buried here. I thought that Russia had left the War at this stage and I thought The British Government had sided with the White Russians during the Civil War. Any replies would be gratefull. Thanks in advance Craig.

I heard that the Soviet Exploding dogs didn't work as they had been trained to walk under Soviet tanks so when they were deployed against German armour they ignored it and ran back to the Soviet armour scoring a spectacular own goal.

Michel, Love Shields only missing the Cholm ( Bit expensive at moment ) Do you have any photos of units wearing this shield Where they made while the siege was going on? Foo

I recently watched an episode of The 20th Century Roadshow ( How sad ) and one of the items brought in was a Dog collar. It was banded in red white and blue leather and had a brass plate with "War Dog 1939 to 1945" with the Royal Cypher. The owner stated it had belonged to her mother in law who was the owner of a very fine looking German Shepard from the photo ( Or as they were called during the War an Alsation) At the begining of the hostilities the War Office asked to "Borrow" the dog for war service. He was eventually trained as a guard dog for a POW camp and the collar was his insignia. The lady stated it was detrained and returned to the family. I can't see how you could detrain it and had a lovely thought of him biting the family on their backsides until his passing! Do you think he was awarded the Defence and War medal

I cant think whats worse David Bowie as Pontius Pilate or him attempting a Scots accent. On the other point does that mean that Canada has no airborne troops?

What about the theory that the damage to his eye also caused brain damage resulting in his strange behaviour with that notorious Tom Emma Hamilton. The sad thing in his diary before Trafalagar he says "I will never see poor Merton again" He was lucky I work there and it is a total toilet now

Robin, fantastic collection by the way Your post 24 the steel helmet is this for a specific Friekorps unit? Im sure I've seen a photo of Goering wearing a similar helmet was it from his unit? Foo

If Firefly or any others feel this should be placed in another Forum please do I have a friend who has seen a photo of a Mulberry being launched and was sure the foreground shows an area of Hayling Island where he grew up. Can anyone tell me if this was where they were constructed and if anyone knows this photo apparently you can see a pub in the background.

Firefly, I couldnt believe how cramped it was. Can you imagine everytime it was fired the Commander must have ben thinking " If that doesn't stop Im going to be squashed " The King Tiger was incredible the seats are still in there and there was still German plates inside. The girlfriens was ecstatic asI told her what was in thee NOT

2 Coppers from Wandsworth have just been awarded this would they place it on there Jubilee Medal?

Just returned from Bovington and it looks like wub.gif its going all child friendly flame The good points are that you can now sit in the Panzer 3 and when I was there the back was missing from the Cupola of the King Tiger. I looked and it is brilliant in there. I would have got a photo but I was told to " Bugger off That " Fair enough

Churchll when made High Lord of the Admiraltily was asked abot sailing traditions. He replied " Rum Sodomy and the lash "

What the hell ! Is it a Beaufort?

It makes my blood boil that Police Officers do not have a seperate Gallantary award! I beleive that there was a Queens Police Medall for gallantrybut now its for desk wallahs for " Service " Now these poor coppers get an award from from a a very bad newspaper! flame flame

I think it came from from unusual practices commited by HM Parachute Regiment

I believe that The City of London Police have there number on their helmet badge I dont know about the other forces.