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Bonsoir Stuart, No sure that's the kind of view you're after, but here are CROCODILE and SERAPIS crossing the Suez Canal. They both were "Her Majesty's Indian Troopship", and mainly served (from late 1860s to early 1890s) to convey troops to/from India. "SERAPIS" is of Kipling fame. Cheers, Jerome

Pleasure Igor, The researching itself is actually very pleasant ! As I've kind of grasped the juggling between the "Annuaires Militaires" and other sources, that's quite fast as well. But you have a lucky one here, for I've researched quite a few French Officers, and such feats do not turn up so often ! Salutations, Jerome

Bonjour Igor, and Bingo ! The name is actually "Fleury Vernay". And a very unusual first name at that ! Obviously the engraving of the medal is post-Crimean, as Vernay was born on 11 June 1830 in Lyons, and was a young subaltern, a "Sous-Lieutenant" in the Crimea - He was attached to the "13e Regiment d'Artillerie" (mounted artillery). He distinguished himself at Traktir with the 4th Battery of the 13th Regiment, which won him the Legion d'Honneur (very unusual for such a junior officer, so he really did deserve it). As told by the history of the 13th Regiment of Artillery : He will be promoted to Lieutenant on 26 May 1857. In 1859 he will still be a "Lieutenant en Second" with the 13th Regiment. In 1860 he transferred as "Lieutenant en Premier" to the 6th Battery of the "1er Regiment d'Artillerie a Pied", at Grenoble. By 1861 the Regiment will have moved to Algiers - and Verany to the 14th Battery of the Regiment. he was still there in 1863. He was promoted to Capitaine on 3 March 1864, and in 1870, at the eve of the war with Prussia, he was "Capitaine en Premier" by the "9e R?giment d'Artillerie Mont?e", at Grenoble. His battery (the 7th Battery of the regiment) was engaged at Froeschwiller : (extracted from the "Revue d'histoire r?dig?e ? l'?tat-major de l'arm?e - 1902") He is not listed anymore on the 1873 Annuaire Militaire. Quite a bit of interesting service ! Congratulations - that's a very good one ! Jerome

Bonjour, Same here for me alas : As for the link, it leads me to the message : The requested URL /books/pdf/Geschichte_des_K_k__i_e__Kaiserlich_koen.pdf?id=0Daa-G_ebHEC&output=pdf&sig=1zSxQOu7iEwLt0ZPc-v78xmgyb8 was not found on this server I am under a strong impression that Google Books uses the computer's regional parameters to define access level, with provisions pertaining to interpretations of copyright law. In those cases *useless*, but I guess that'd be some kind of "corporate decision".... Anyway many thanks for pointing to those - there still is some much useful stuff to extract from those "snippet views". And thanks for giving the link a go ; at least we tried ! Cheers, Jerome

Bonsoir Dave, Many thanks for the tip - there's definitely something in there for me ! Though I understand from your "34.8 mB" that you actually could download the book ? For most of those I seem to have only access to these most frustrating partial extracts ; am I missing some fine point here ? If I may -and if it is indeed possible- would you mind specifying the pdf downloading address ? Many thanks, and cheers ! Jerome

Hi Bill, How did I find him ? I googled "General Mourot" http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.g...fiche.php?id=75 "COLONNA D'ISTRIA Paulin ( 1905 - 1982 ) (...) Apr?s le d?barquement anglo-am?ricain du 8 novembre 1942, il est adjoint au g?n?ral Mourot, commandant de la gendarmerie en A.F.N. (le 6 d?cembre 1942)." (this is a bio for Paulin Colonna d'Istria) -> After the Anglo-American landing of 8 november 1942, he is deputy to general Mourot, commanding Gendarmerie in French North africa. http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.g...ire/hab/pa3.htm "La gendarmerie pendant la campagne de Tunisie (novembre 1942 - mai 1943) (...) En outre, la gendarmerie prend part ? l'?puration de la Tunisie. Le 8 mai 1943, une d?l?gation ? la s?curit? g?n?rale de la Tunisie est mise en place sous la direction du g?n?ral de gendarmerie Mourot. Elle vise ? r?primer les men?es antifran?aises dans les grandes villes tunisiennes et surtout Tunis, d?s leur lib?ration par les Alli?s. Cette action est dirig?e conjointement par le 2e bureau du contr?le sup?rieur du territoire tunisien, la s?curit? militaire, la police de Tunis et la gendarmerie. Cette derni?re re?oit plus sp?cialement pour mission, pour Tunis seulement, d'enqu?ter sur les Fran?ais ayant appartenu au SOL et au Parti populaire fran?ais (PPF). Du 8 mai au 28 juin 1943, elle proc?de ? 3 255 arrestations. Le 26 juin 1943, le g?n?ral de Gaulle reproche au g?n?ral Mourot une ?puration excessive. Il doit quitter ses fonctions peu apr?s." -> Furthermore, gendarmerie takes part in the purge of Tunisia. On 8 may 1943, a delegation for the general security of Tunisia is formed under the direction of the general de gandarmerie Mourot. It aims to repress the antifrench schemings in the big tunisian towns, and especially Tunis, as soon as they are liberated by the allies. This action is jointly directed by the 2e Bureau of superio control of the tunisian territory, the securite militaire, the Tunis police and the gendarmerie. The latter is more specifically charged, for Tunis only, to investigate on the French who had belonged to the SOL and the Parti populaire fran?ais (PPF). From the 8 may to the 28 of June 1943, it arrests 3255 people. On June 26 1943, general de Gaulle reproaches to general Mourot an excessive purge. He has to resign his post soon thereafter. That's about the extent I could find, though there is the odd reference to those facts here and there. Couldn't check his first name though. Cheers, Jerome

Hi Bill, Looks like there was a G?n?ral Mourot active in Tunisia c. 1942-43, involved in Gendarmerie and Police duties. Could he be your man ? Cheers, Jerome

Victor Antoine indeed ! "Nomm? provisoirement g?n?ral de brigade par le g?n?ral en chef Mass?na le 25 juillet 1799, il servit ? Zurich le 15 ao?t, puis le 27 septembre. Il fut confirm? g?n?ral de brigade par le Directoire ex?cutif le 19 octobre 1799, et directeur des fortifications ? Montpellier le 14 mars 1800, avant d'?tre r?form? le 4 juin 1802." http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Antoine_Andr%C3%A9ossy Cheers, J?r?me

Bonsoir Barry, Doesn't the "11 Brumaire An VIII" correspond to the 2nd November 1799 ? http://www.gefrance.com/calrep/calen8.htm That's btw just 1 week before Napol?on's Coup ! Antoine-Fran?ois Andr?ossy (1761-1828) : From : http://www.histoire-empire.org/persos/andr...y/andreossy.htm Salut et Fraternit? ! J?r?me

Come on Rick, of course it is clear that everything started to go awry when British maps started to be mentioned... Chris, here are a few tidbits re. the Aveyron during your sailor's time aboard : The Times, October 24, 1883 : France, China, And Tonquin "SAIGON, Oct. 23. The French transports Shamrock and Aveyron, bringing reinforcements of troops and war material, have arrived here." The Times, November 17, 1883 : France, China, And Tonquin "PARIS, Nov. 16. The Libert? of this evening positively contradicts the alarmist reports current on the Bourse to-day in reference to the operations in Tonquin. The last despatch received from Admiral Courbet, dated the 8th inst., stated that the health of troops was excellent and announced the arrival of the transports Aveyron and Shamrock. The Admiral expected the transports Bien-Hoa and Tonquin to arriv on the 10th inst., and purposed attacking Sontay between the 15th and 20th inst. It is therefore thought probable that the French advance has already commenced" The Times, January 10, 1884 : Latest Intelligence "PARIS, Jan.9. The Minister of Marine has received the following telegram from Admiral Courbet, despatched from Hong-Kong at noon to-day, and dated Hanoi, December 27th and 31st :- "To-day, December 27, a fire broke out in the artillery stores at Hanoi. The loss of material was inconsiderable, and will be replaced within a fortnight from Saigon by the transport Aveyron." I quite enjoy those little snippets - they kind of make more concrete the actual tasks and life of the guys researched. Ciao ! J.

And that's about it ! Enjoy reading the French J?r?me

(to be continued)

(to be continued)

(to be continued)

*Yuck* I... I prefer not to think about THAT Anyway, you may want to add that to your files : The proceedings of the Court Martial of the Captain of the Aveyron. There's some interesting stuff, including the threats by the locals, and a map. Sorry to say I'm not gonna translate that ! (he was acquitted by the way). (to be continued)

By the way the pencil annotations, you will have understood, are notes on the ordeals of the Aveyron. It states that the sailors taken on board by the British ship" comprised/were the sick and wounded.

Right here we are ! Here is about your man ; lots of stuff about his pay, some interesting elements : * He served the Tonkin Campaign on board the Transport Aveyron (a transport ship designed to accomodate horses as well) * He got in trouble -and jail- a couple of times ; as befits a good sailor ! * There's an interesting story in those files ; see page 105. Sorry Chris, I spoilt part of the fun in doing a little research here and there ; mind you it was just to confirm the spelling of some names I tried to have my sentences match the original lines. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Page 101 : 3rd Class seaman Treasurer?s orderly Come from the 2nd Depot Company on February 17th (permanent staff? For ?) Punished with 4 days in jail on May 2nd affected to the 2nd depot Company on 15 August 1883 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Page 102 : Come from the Non-combatant Section on 15 August 1883 Detached to Toulon on 19 August 1883 (despatch of 16 august 1883) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Page 103 : Come detached from the Lorient Division on 19 August, road pay from said date, land pay from the 22d. Aveyron, 27 August 1883 NOTA : Aveyron was a transport ship, much involved in transporting troops (and horses) to the Tonkin (see below) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Page 104 : Comes from the Toulon Division on 27 August Present on 31 october ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Page 105 : 3rd Class Seaman Shipwrecked at Cape Gardafin on 21 August Embarked on the 23 on the ??Lord of the?? X (means ??continued below??)? Comes from the Muster 1883 n?23 ??soutier?*? the * "soutiers" are the poor fellas working in the coal room 20 February. Absent on the 4 May come back the 6 of said. (?????) ??soutier?? on the 4 June. 8 days prison on 7 August. X Isles?? of (????) disembarked at Aden on the 25 Embarked on the 28 on board the Sindh destined to the Seignelay on the 23 for the pay and on the 5 (September ?) for the rations NOTA : ?Cap Gardafin ? is the easternmost tip of Africa, on the Indian Ocean, also known as ??Guardafui??, ?Ras Hafun?? or Cape Hafun (today in Somalia) ; it is a ??trendy shipwreck point??, and a treaty had been signed in 1862 with the locals (the Mudjurtines) to protect the shipwrecked : the treaty (renewed in 1879, and on l May 1885), instituted a $350 yearly revenue for the Sultan of the Midjurtines and Yusuf Ali from Alula. The Transport ??Aveyron ? was shipwrecked on 21 August 1884 : due to a strong Monsoon at Cape Gardafui, she ran onto the wreck of the M?kong. The ship could not be saved and was burnt down by its Commander, Captain Michelin. The crew was taken along by passing boats. http://dossiersmarine.free.fr/fs_t_T3.html The Times, August 25, 1884 : LOSS OF A FRENCH TROOPSHIP Lloyd's Agents at Aden telegraphed, under date of August 23, 9 10 p.m., that the French troopship Aveyron had been totally wrecked at Guardafui. The Aveyron was bound from Haiphong and Saigon for France. A Reuter telegram states that 286 of the officers and crew have arrived at Aden ; the rest, numbering 300 officers and men, remain on the spot. Her Majesty's ship Briton has been ordered to Cape Guardafui to assist. The Times, August 26, 1884 : THE WRECK OF THE AVEYRON Aden, Aug.25 The remainder of the officers and crew of the French transport Aveyron have been landed here by the steamer Lord of the Isles. The Lord of the Isles was a Union Line steamer, then going from China to New York. She had reached Malta by September 5 1884, and New York on September 25 1884. Re. the Sindh, I?ll quote The Times, 22 August, 1884 COLOMBO, Aug. 20- The Messageries Maritimes steamer Sindh, with the inward French mails from Japan, China, Batavia, Singapore, Calcutta, &c., left here to-day for Aden bound for Marseilles. She has on board 48 passengers and a general cargo, including 280 bales of silk, 5,300 packages of tea, and 560 packages of sundries for London. The Times, 1 September, 1884 (Reuter?s telegrams) ADEN, Aug. 30- The Messageries Maritimes steamer Sindh, with the French mails from Japan, China, Batavia, Singapore, Colombo, Calcutta, &c., left here to-day for Marseilles. The Times, 5 September, 1884 (Reuter?s telegrams) SUEZ CANAL, Sept. 3- The Messageries Maritimes steamer Sindh, with the inward mails from Japan, China, Batavia, Singapore, Calcutta , Colombo, &c., left Suez to-day for Port Said, Naples, and Marseilles. She may be expected at the latter port on September 11, when her London cargo will be transshipped to the same company?s steamer Gange, due in London on or about September 27. The Seignelay was a San? class screw corvette. See here : http://dossiersmarine.free.fr/fs_c_C5.html ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Page 106 : 3rd Class Seaman (?????) Comes from the Aveyron on the 23 August Entered hospital on 29 December 1884 Saignelay 2nd Company (in bold and diagonal) Delivered a money order of the amount of 30.53 for Perfect circuit of pay (seems to mean that he was given some kind of good conduct pay ?) Toulon, 18 March 1885 (behind) Clothing (?????) Loss of (????) Owes (???) Clothing Tobacco and Soap Tools (?) 3 days in hospital 128 pay day at 0.80 Totals Credit under Delegation The Captain (???) Verified The Administrative Officer ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Page 107 : Comes from Muster/84 N?279 Being in hospital on 29 December out on 3 January Admitted in Hospital on 18 January out On 20 February takes passage on board the Steamer of Messageries Maritimes (????) Of said, to be destined to Mr The Commissary for Armaments and Mr Mardullo (?) Has received a (???) 1885 Seignelay 2nd Company On account Tobacco and soap On account ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Page 108 : Comes from the Seignelay on 28 February 1885, day of his Disembarkation at Marseilles. Road pay from said, land pay from 27 of said. Hospital from 6 March 1885, out of hospital on 13 March 85. On sick leave for 3 months (?????) from 21 March 85 To be spent at Audierne (Finist?re). Rejoins Brest Prefectoral decision dated NOTA : Audierne, small place in Brittany ; see here : http://www.audierne.info/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It is to be noted that there were some fierce outbreaks of cholera in Toulon in 1884. It was rumoured to have been brought back from Asia by a Transport ship, la "Sarthe". Salutations, J?r?me

Argh ! That von Hagenow photo is killing me ! What a stunner !

From The Times (see "Frontier Force" in the allocation list) :

Bonjour Chris, Answer in short is "allocated to Pakistan's Army on partition". A fuller one can be found along this interesting account of the Guides' history : http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/army...rpsofguides.htm Their digest on Regiments.org : http://www.regiments.org/regiments/southas...nf/1903guid.htm Salutations, J?r?me

Thanks again to all - with your outstanding help that gentleman has regained much of his identity This is all duly recorded here : http://www.hussards-photos.com/PaysBas/Pay...t_VanVessem.htm Meileures salutations, J?r?me

Merci beaucoup messieurs ! That's great info - much appreciated Mmmh I'm wondering wether the Metalen Kruis being side by side with the Belgian Leopold Order would not have some special kind of meaning ? Stunning ! Merci messieurs, J?r?me

Bonjour, Adding a newcomer in my collection - this CDV (late 1870s) is identified in the back as "Jonkheer van Vessem". I found some online reference to a "Jonkheer H.A.L. van Wessem", 1814-1891, who was "woonachtig op Bijdorp en voormalig ritmeester, ordonnansofficier van koning Willem 111 en intendant van de koninklijke paleizen te Amsterdam en Den Haag" - which I take means "originating from Bijdorp, a former Captain, Ordonnance Officer of king Willem III, and intendant of the royal palaces in Amsterdam and The Hague". Which matches perfectly with his unifom, rank and aiguillettes on the CDV : Now closing on his medal rack : Can anyone help in identifying them ? My best guess so far (thanks for confirming !) : HANGING FROM NECK : - Order of St. Stanislaus (Russia) - ? TOP ROW : - Huisorde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau, Ridder der 5e Classe - Orde van de Eikenkroon - Ridder - ? - ? BOTTOM ROW : - Metalen Kruis 1830-1831 - ? - ? His quoted birth date (1814) make him a tad youngish for the "Metalen Kruis", but the medal really looks the part. Thanks for your help ! Salutations, J?r?me

Bonsoir Jeff, You may be interested to search the Archives of the London Gazette ? It is online from...1752 (!) to 1979 here : http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveSearch.asp The August 14 1914 entry will tell you for instance that : UNATTACHED LIST FOR INDIAN ARMY Gentleman Cadet Cuthbert William Arthur Barwis, from the Royal Military College, Kingston, Canada, to be Second Lieutenant, with a view to his appointment to the Indian Army. His Indian Connexion seem to have been with the 54th Sikhs - he was also attached for a while with the 70th and 85th Burmah Rifles. But I let you search the Gazette ! With such a rare surname, no need to use the initials / first names in the search box, "Barwis" will be enough. Be sure to select the proper years, and don't forget to tick the appropriate box. Happy searching ! Jerome (btw, sometimes the site goes down ; patience is ...useful !)

Igor, Here's another despatch about your Officers. Published in The Times on Sunday, February 13th, 1814 (as a SECOND SUPPLEMENT to the LONDON GAZETTE, of Saturday, Feb. 12th) : Salutations, J?r?me