harribobs

Hunter

great picture....can i put it in our site?

mancs

T's ..........

I'd guess at them being around 3/4" tall, with lugs N & S ( at work at the moment)

they are the same size as others I've seen worn on Mancs terriers oficers collars, (we have a uniformed mannequin in the manchesters museum with them)

they are standard Manchester Regiment badges from 1908- 1922, there are variations of course

the top one is the cap badge, the middle pair the collar 'dogs' and the lower pair shoulder titles, the 6th battalion ORs also had their own shoulder title

councilio et labore means something like 'wisdom and hard work'

chris

absolutely right..

like these

with a set of these

cheers Hunter

I tell you, stand on fort Vaux at 08:00 am in the morning, howling wind, pouring rain, steel grey sky, biting cold... not another soul in site..... its as close to a religious experiance that an old pagan like me can have. it is a sobering, but wonderful experiance.

Chris

I know it must have been, but the sight of those unexploded shells!

excellent pics gents

i'm not convinced i want to join you on your next expedition

Can't help with the book Peter, never seen it and can't find it on Abebooks

here's my helmet again with an infantry version (which lives in the manchesters museum)

(From "The Volunteer Infantry of Ashton" Robert Bonner)

no problem

good luck at Kew!

don't forget this was pre 1908, the 3rd VB had their own medical chap to administer to them, he's on the army list

here's his SDGW entry, you're right he is called Walter

as for the others, it's a guess of course, but i think you're right

Me too Peter, don't forget

Chris, I'm a bit baffled by a Surgeon Major wearing an infantry HP. I believe there was a RAMC volunteers. I'm not doubting, just confused and seeking a bit of clarification.

don't forget this was pre 1908, the 3rd VB had their own medical chap to administer to them, he's on the army list

Thank you for all the information. I think these are great helmets. I know I really need to focus more with helmets, but I just love the idea of lots of pieces from different times.

I'll post photos of the one I am purchasing when it arrives.

i look forward to seeing it!

That's a gem Chris.

Why the ball top though? I'd always associated them with Arms and Services rather than infantry. I've a couple of helmet plates but not the helmet. I'm definitely starting to 'feel the need'. There's room in the cabinet or would be if I got one

Thanks Jim

it's a surgeons helmet...hence the ball, to be more exact it's Surgeon Major J Deacon's helmet of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment (Vol Batt hence the silver rather than gilt)

XXIII Brigade , Regular army unit, 3rd Division to January 1917. Left Division and became an Army Brigade. By November 1918 with Second Army. Originally 107,108 and 109 Batts. Latter left May 1916. A section from each of 86(H) and 128 (H) Batts joined May 16 and redesignated D Batt.

there's a potted history of the 3rd Division here 3rd Div

let me have his name and i'll look him up in SDGW for you, you never know there may be another bit of ifo there

i have got to agree with the Bosley recomendation

from my collection

you already had the answer when you ordered the MIC, it tells you his unit

not YA, it's FA Field Ambulance

5th Field Ambulance Company Royal Engineers

In 1899 the 1st battalion left gibraltar, which they had been stationed for the last two years for service in South Africa, they were withdrawn in 1901 (to Ireland IIRC),

I'll correct my own post here

they left south africa in 1902 for singapore D'oh!

Am I right in thinking that another old British Army slang word is Bundook, used by the British to refer to the rifle, originaly comes from the Arabic language or from Afganistan??

Kev in Deva.

you're right Kev, but it was an indian term

Most Gorkhas, of course, continue serving in the Indian Army.

i wasn't aware of that Ed, i know there was a lot of bickering about which regiment transferred to the British Army

what was the split?

Greg,

good illustration!

if it was issued to the british ( or pre-partition Indian) army units, it would have english proof stamps on, probably the broad WD arrow, probably an I (for an Indian proof house), also the design of the sheath is wrong for british issue

the small 'eating' utensils (sorry i have forgotten their names) one is a small knife for using when the kukri is just too big, the other ( thicker and blunter) is actually for sharpening the other two

for a little interesting bit of information, wilkinson sword were asked to produce some kukris for the gurkha units but they weren't popular as the steel was too hard and they couldn't sharpen them in combat situations

Absolutely not angered at all. I apprecialte all the information you can provided me. I'll make one last scan of the Tang to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me on any maker's marks. I fully understand your point and that could be the case with this sword.

Thank you again.

Regards,

Joel

cheers Joel

all the best

chris

the guys coming back weren't unknown for making their own souveniers look 'good'

compare a 'proper' habaki

not trying to piss you off here btw

Chris, I thank you for your reply. However, there are no marks on the tang. Unfortunately.....

Joel

as you probably know, that would be the only way you could trace the smith

i can help but think that the sword looks a little mismatched, the combat cover is in great condition but the sword looks ....well bloody rough, the habaki (brass collar on blade) looks like it was hammered on to make it fit

Joel

you need to remove the handle from the blade by pushing out the small wooden plug. and if there is a signature to found,it will be on the tang of the blade

chris

I'd like to further enlist the help of British collectors out there. I know the German stuff very well, but want to venture further into collecting some British high ranks and have no idea where and who to turn. I'd like to locate Field Marshal and Fleet Admiral insignia, preferrably WW2 vintage. I'm sure this is as big of a task as finding the German stuff, and probably quite as pricey as well, but after all 'the hunt' is what makes all of this so much fun.

Do any of you out there have some advice?

Thank you in advance,

Mike

this guy on ebay puts up a lot of Army and Navy stuff, it's worth keeping an eye on his auctions

http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrpp...Q3aMEFSQ3aMESOI