army historian

Thanks for comment!

I find it very interesting, how much great history can be behind one simple award! And there is so many items around what history is lost forewer

All the research, photos and text credit and of course hugh thank you goes to forum member "army historian"

Noor, "Sing Taw" is what my uncle called "Tsingtao" or Tsingtau". You might want to correct that in the history. George

What is even more interesting is that Benjamin's mother died 6 months before Ben of TB and I have her death certificate and also the marriage certificate of his mother and father. Ben's younger brother John went on to serve in the Korean war as a medic with an Armored unit, survived the war and died in 1967 (another research project). I have some of brother John's medical items and more pictures. Strange what comes from family groups. Thank you for the kind comments.

That is a very very nice fully documented group! Thanks for sharing. Captain George Albert

I am trying to locate a photograph of the SS Jason 1904. Prior to March 7, 1914, the steamship Edna was known as the Jason. She had Norwegian ownership and registry. In 1912 she was equipped with a radio. By charter agreement she came under the management and control of a national of Germany named Friedrich Jebsen, of San Francisco, California. She was renamed SS Mazatlan. She was sold in 1915 and renamed Edna. She was captured by H.M.S. Newcastle in 1916. Any help would be appreciated. Please note: there was more that one SS Jason. Captain George Albert

Wow! Really nice and informative. Thanks Captain Albert

Does anyone know if the crusiers in the Atlantic in 1914 S.M.S. Dresden and S.M.S. Karlsruhe were eligiable for the Kolonial Badge? Any help would be appreciated.

Captain George Albert

Peter - terrific that your unit still uses the old title...

Peter, I am sorry, but I should not have used that old title. I meant to infer what we are or do. We are the "California State Military Reserve". Captain George Albert

Chief Commissary Steward Raymond E. Griffith (served 1945 to 1963) Here is another photograph.

Here is a model 1886 Light Artillery Sergeant's uniform. I still have the helmet.

I traded a while back for a couple of Iron Crosses 2nd Class one 1914, and one 1939. Both are marked the 1914 is "KO" which I am aware of . The 1939 has what looks like "106" on the ring. Is this correct or possible? Sorry I went back and is not "L08" Captain George Albert.

Sorry I didn't enclose a photograph of Chief Commissary Steward Raymond E. Griffith (served 1945 to 1963). 1st in Antartica.

Here is a WW1 enlistman's complete uniform with extras. He was a Pvt. in the 144th Field Artillery (Grizzles) 40th Division. The dry cleaners lost a button, I will have to replace (large vegitable type). The boots came from the family, they are hob nailed, but very small? They were made by Montgomery Wards. I also need to replace the laces. Served in France. Sorry for the quality of the photo. What does not show is the Canteen with carrier, and enlisted spurs.

George Albert

I would say a very nice start. I think the Bavarian Orders and medals of War Merit are some of the most lovely. Keep up the collecting. George Albert

Yes, small? in quantity maybe, but huge in quality. Beautiful collection. Happy hunting. Captain George Albert

Peter,

Here is one of the uniforms I fielded for recuiting. It is an 1886 style light artillary Sergeant Dress uniform. George Albert

Leight,

Beautiful collection.

Mervyn wrote:

I have particularly enjoyed looking at the earlier patterns of shakos - Fencibles were an early form of local defense unit in Britain - I think the derivation of the word is from the French.

Correst! The full form of the word was "defencible", with fairly obvious linguistic ties to both the French ('defencable', I believe) and English "defensible". These troops were raised during the Napoleonic Wars - 1780-1815 - to defend England or its colonies and couldn't be sent on foreighn service. It was a way to get enlistment among the militias and war weary civillians, as Fencibles were paid and organized as regular troops but without the danger of being sent to Europe, the 'Fever Islands' or some other tropical hellhole.

Peter Monahan, Sergeant,

Royal Newfoundland Fencible Infantry

(War of 1812 reenactment unit)

Thanks Peter,

Yes the old militia shakos are very interesting. I applaud you for being in a re-enactors group that takes a lot of time, money, and dedication. Thanks for the information. I only things I have done are to field 4-5 National guard soldiers in period uniforms for recuiting. I also was part of an Honor Guard (below). Captain George Albert

California state Military Reserve (State Defense Force) same as the old Fencible Infantry.

The Connecticut Governor's Foot Guard must be incredibly rare - and valuable. I take it that the covering is bear skin ? And the hand painted badge/insignia takes us back straight back to an early colonial period. Wonderful.

The Light Artillery Officer's Dress Helmet is in superb condition - and with your mentioning buffalo or, Yak, you can see that it is a dense hair.

With the cap for the 7th. Cavalry - do you have the correct badge in your collection ?

Once again, thankyou for sight of these rare pieces - I'm sure they will excite comment. Mervyn

Thanks Mervyn, I traded the Connecticut Governor's Foot Guard helmet for a documented (with photo) Awarded documents and medal group to a German Rear-Admiral. He survived the Battles of Coronel and the Falklands in WW1, via a complete US WW2 Army Pacific combat unifom. "Triangle trade". I more than got the value out of the Guards helmet. As for the 7th Cavalry, I don't have any of the keipies any longer from my second collection (150 pieces of head gear, and 50+ uniforms). I scaled down to basically photo documented medals and or medal/uniform groups. I still have some of the model 1881 dress helmets and a few older pieces. You should try goggling for the 7th cavalry and the Little Big Horn. Good luck George Albert

Patrick

Very nice collection, beautiful headgear, and in excellent condition. I had a complete 21st Lancer's uniform pre-WW1. If I can find a picture I will post. This was back in the late 1970's. Captain George Albert

Here is a documented with photos medal/uniform group to:

Chief Commissary Steward Raymond E. Griffith (served 1945 to 1963) (Mounted medal group of 5):

• Navy Good Conduct with Silver Star (6^th award) Engraved: “Raymond E. Griffith”
• American Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Medal with Bronze Star
• Antarctic Service Medal with Bronze “Winter Over” Bar (note: Should be Gold Bar, for second award)

I received all this with paperwork from the family. His brother David found out I collected uniforms and gave it all to me free.

Sorry for the last post, operator error. Here is a Model 1972 Light Artillery Officer's Dress Helmet that has been cut down to the M1881 style. The maker was Bent & Bush. This was sold a long time ago also. Notice the "hair" is not horse hair like the enlist plumes, the officer's were made of buffalo or yak.

Bravo, an excellent and beautiful collection. George Albert

Hi Peter,

I second Will's remarks, very very nice collection! George Albert

Mervyn,

Here is another very interesting helmet very hard to date. It is an enlisted man 1st Company, Connecticut Governor's Foot Guards helmet. There were raised in 1771 to protect and escort the Governor. They are still in existence today. They wear a very simular uniform, and it is a rather high honor to belong to this unit. George Albert

Here is the inside maker's tag for the white tarbucket. Not too bad for a 173 year old hat. Christy was in business from 1833 to 1838 at this Boston address. George Albert