Duchess said:Motorcycle Despatch Riders ....
Comes complete with tiny little round spectacles in the case and a book dated 1929 costing the original owner 1s/6d (whatever that means)
1s/6d (1 shilling and 6pence) is the pre-decimal equivilent of 7 1/2 pence.
I don't want to intrude but would you tell us who the items belonged to, I will understand if you say it's none of my business.
War graves Commission
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Dickieboy said:Duchess said:Motorcycle Despatch Riders ....
Comes complete with tiny little round spectacles in the case and a book dated 1929 costing the original owner 1s/6d (whatever that means
1s/6d (1 shilling and 6pence) is the pre-decimal equivilent of 7 1/2 pence.
I don't want to intrude but would you tell us who the items belonged to, I will understand if you say it's none of my business.
It belonged to a gentleman by the name of 'J Rawlands' I've tried to do a search but I can't find any history on him at all.
There is a badge that was apparently worn over the white leather helmet which shows the Regiment he belonged to (or I believe he belonged to) but again despite my vain efforts I can't seem marry the badge up. I think you can see it in one of the pictures that I posted earlier this evening.
If you want I'll try and get some clearer photo's sometime tomorrow to post.
Duchess said:
Looking at Pic 5 that looks like a Royal Navy cap badge so it might be worth writing to the RN Museum...
Royal Navy Museum
or maybe the Imperial War Museum...
http://www.iwm.org.uk/
or if from an Army Regiment you could look up their museum here...
Army Museums
or even perhaps your local county museum ?
I would think any museum would be only to happy to display such items and there are a lot of us who would like to see them.
Possu
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Like many here, I've ridden past many War Cemetaries, thought of the dead & injured and then ridden on. Next time I'll be stopping. There's an excellent Canadian Memorial by the roadside in Northern France I've passed several times - large statue of an Elk or Caribou?
Plenty of non-British cemetaries and memorials out there also:
American Cemetary @ St. James:
Not sure I wantto know how many are here
:
German Ossuary, hard to believe that the bones of nearly 12,000 Germans are contained within such a small area:
Guisseny, Brittany:
Anyone visiting Berlin would do well to visit the Holocaust Memorial near the Reichstag:
I've possibly got a spare brochure if anyone wants one?
Plenty of non-British cemetaries and memorials out there also:
American Cemetary @ St. James:
Not sure I wantto know how many are here
:
German Ossuary, hard to believe that the bones of nearly 12,000 Germans are contained within such a small area:
Guisseny, Brittany:
Anyone visiting Berlin would do well to visit the Holocaust Memorial near the Reichstag:
I've possibly got a spare brochure if anyone wants one?
That's odd, or not. Found 4 with my surname, but all from Scotland, I always though I was paternal Irish and Maternal Scottish. 
Anyway, what is funny, is I know of three uncles at Montecasino, and two plus maternal grandad at D-Day, all made it to the end of the war. Paternal grandparents died on the Isle of Dogs during the blitz.
My Dad was due to go to Korea, but before he was due to be shipped out, he jumped over the fence to see his girlfriend before he went, and got caught and put in prison - makes you wonder what would have happened had he gone.
But, get this. I never knew anything about the last bit, until halfway through secondary school. A bloke in my year, not really someone I hung around with, but knew anyway, once came up to me and asked if my Dad's name was Derek, I replied that it was.
"Blimey," he said. "My dad was in prison with your dad."
Anyway, what is funny, is I know of three uncles at Montecasino, and two plus maternal grandad at D-Day, all made it to the end of the war. Paternal grandparents died on the Isle of Dogs during the blitz.
My Dad was due to go to Korea, but before he was due to be shipped out, he jumped over the fence to see his girlfriend before he went, and got caught and put in prison - makes you wonder what would have happened had he gone.
But, get this. I never knew anything about the last bit, until halfway through secondary school. A bloke in my year, not really someone I hung around with, but knew anyway, once came up to me and asked if my Dad's name was Derek, I replied that it was.
"Blimey," he said. "My dad was in prison with your dad."
Decster
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War dead 2006
Friend put me onto this. Its American. Probably would not be allowed by the MOD in the UK. I dont know being Irish. 80,000 known Irish men gave their lives in both WW's, not known how many actually died fighting.
Back to the present.
http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/
Seems that the stupidty of war never ends.
D
Friend put me onto this. Its American. Probably would not be allowed by the MOD in the UK. I dont know being Irish. 80,000 known Irish men gave their lives in both WW's, not known how many actually died fighting.
Back to the present.
http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/
Seems that the stupidty of war never ends.
D
My great uncle Frank, died of wounds received in action when leading a bren gun carrier troop.
link to CWG
link to CWG
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downfield
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MZOKK, you've probly noted the date of death of your relative.....the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme. The 9th RIR (West Belfast) were earlier incorporated into the 36th (Ulster) Division and as such were one of three Divisions to achieve their objectives on this fateful day, in their case the taking of the Shwaben Redoubt near Beaumont Hamel.
Brave lads the lot of 'em.
Brave lads the lot of 'em.
Deleted account W
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I showed the site to my Dad this afternoon, we spent a while looking for my Grandad. He then remembereed that he didn't die in a war but passed away in a pub in Ilkeston in 1961 
My Dads nearly 80 and gets a bit confused
My Dads nearly 80 and gets a bit confused
Whatton said:I showed the site to my Dad this afternoon, we spent a while looking for my Grandad. He then remembereed that he didn't die in a war but passed away in a pub in Ilkeston in 1961
My Dads nearly 80 and gets a bit confused
Further to my PM on the MIC search results:
I've been looking through the photo's added.
The boots are Army pattern DR boots. They are basically Ammunition boots with leather gaiters stitched on. The same boots were issued or at least in stores as late as the 1970's. The same goes for the Khaki Drill (KD) DR breeches.
I'm not certain but normal short Ammo' boots and Puttee's were worn by army DR's as late as 1938 when the old KD Service dress was replaced by the KD 'Battle-dress' and '38 Pattern webbing introduced.
The cap badge is definitely Royal Navy and enlarging the photo it appears to be a RN officers badge. The Royal Navy DR's were Royal Marines. They would have also used KD clothing. RN DR's certainly would not have been RN Commissioned Officers.
This page from the booklet.....
is signed "A B Smith. Lieut. R.E."
Is Lieutenant Smith Royal Engineers, the author or is that signature added later by the booklet owner?
I've been looking through the photo's added.
The boots are Army pattern DR boots. They are basically Ammunition boots with leather gaiters stitched on. The same boots were issued or at least in stores as late as the 1970's. The same goes for the Khaki Drill (KD) DR breeches.
I'm not certain but normal short Ammo' boots and Puttee's were worn by army DR's as late as 1938 when the old KD Service dress was replaced by the KD 'Battle-dress' and '38 Pattern webbing introduced.
The cap badge is definitely Royal Navy and enlarging the photo it appears to be a RN officers badge. The Royal Navy DR's were Royal Marines. They would have also used KD clothing. RN DR's certainly would not have been RN Commissioned Officers.
This page from the booklet.....
is signed "A B Smith. Lieut. R.E."
Is Lieutenant Smith Royal Engineers, the author or is that signature added later by the booklet owner?
MikeP said:Further to my PM on the MIC search results:
I've been looking through the photo's added.
The boots are Army pattern DR boots. They are basically Ammunition boots with leather gaiters stitched on. The same boots were issued or at least in stores as late as the 1970's. The same goes for the Khaki Drill (KD) DR breeches.
I'm not certain but normal short Ammo' boots and Puttee's were worn by army DR's as late as 1938 when the old KD Service dress was replaced by the KD 'Battle-dress' and '38 Pattern webbing introduced.
The cap badge is definitely Royal Navy and enlarging the photo it appears to be a RN officers badge. The Royal Navy DR's were Royal Marines. They would have also used KD clothing. RN DR's certainly would not have been RN Commissioned Officers.
This page from the booklet.....
is signed "A B Smith. Lieut. R.E."
Is Lieutenant Smith Royal Engineers, the author or is that signature added later by the booklet owner?
The signature has been added to the book, he's certainly not the author or doesn't appear to be the author. The book looks like it was a standard issue with pages added to it by who I can only guess was the original owner. I will however double check and come back to you Mike. If not here then via pm
I did have distant relatives (generations back) that served in the RN during the second world war, unfortunately I can't get any background information as my only contact died quite a while back. What I do know is this kit never belonged to him.
The badge intrigues me ... how would an officers badge get in with a DR's kit then? Is Lieutenant Smith Royal Engineers listed on the MIC ? If so could you send me a link to it please.
I need to do a bit more digging around on this one. Mike thank you so much for coming back to me.
Duchess said:
OK, back down from the attic .... the book is most definately a standard issue originally printed in 1929 then reprinted by the War Office with amendments and additions dated 1939 issued 1940. Lieutenant Smith Royal Engineers would have been the man that drew the os maps for this particular publication so the signature is not the box owner.
So we can still assume that Mr J Rawkins might still be the owner of the DR box. It would be a fair guess that he originated or had some connection with the County of Warwickshire or South Leicestershire, or could even have connections within the County of Nottinghamshire.
Twotter said:It's possible that an Army DR could have had to visit an RN establishment and squaddies being squaddies ???
Oh come on, we've all done it
Well that thought did go through my head.
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Joseph would have joined the 11th Btn. East Lancs. 'Accrington Pals' but he was too young. He was recruted in Blackburn into the RWF instead.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=281673
A search of the Guilfoyles in the 1901 census shows a handfull who would have been of millitary service age during 1914/1918. Sadly most can be also be found on the CWGC database.
Rory is the last in the line of this branch of the Guilfoyle's, paying respect to his Great, Great Uncle Joseph. Rory is aged 13 in the picture, Joseph had just turned 16.
Roy
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=281673
A search of the Guilfoyles in the 1901 census shows a handfull who would have been of millitary service age during 1914/1918. Sadly most can be also be found on the CWGC database.
Rory is the last in the line of this branch of the Guilfoyle's, paying respect to his Great, Great Uncle Joseph. Rory is aged 13 in the picture, Joseph had just turned 16.
Roy
garfield
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found some ancestors on the list but it got me thinking about some of the mad storys we know about from my dad's side of the family (from WW2)
an uncle who was a POW from North Africa (tankie), held in an Italian POW camp, where he escaped from with others and made his way back home through Switzerland to rejoin the war again
another uncle who was a conscientious objector (he was a communist) and held in jail in Saughton Prison, Edinburgh until he joined the war as a Medical Orderly/Stretcher Bearer
my own father who was part of the Atlantic Convoy. My dad joined the war when he was 16 lying about his date of birth so he could go fight with his friends
his brother who was also part of the Atlantic Convoy. His ship was sunk by a U Boat and it was my dad's ship that pulled him and his shipmates out of the water (my uncle survived)
my aunt who was in the Signals riding motorcycles
the other aunt made parachutes
From WW1, my grandfather (dad's side) fought with his brother being KIA
growing up I was told some fantastic stories
....they all made it home safe
an uncle who was a POW from North Africa (tankie), held in an Italian POW camp, where he escaped from with others and made his way back home through Switzerland to rejoin the war again
another uncle who was a conscientious objector (he was a communist) and held in jail in Saughton Prison, Edinburgh until he joined the war as a Medical Orderly/Stretcher Bearer
my own father who was part of the Atlantic Convoy. My dad joined the war when he was 16 lying about his date of birth so he could go fight with his friends
his brother who was also part of the Atlantic Convoy. His ship was sunk by a U Boat and it was my dad's ship that pulled him and his shipmates out of the water (my uncle survived)
my aunt who was in the Signals riding motorcycles
the other aunt made parachutes
From WW1, my grandfather (dad's side) fought with his brother being KIA
growing up I was told some fantastic stories
....they all made it home safe