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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Andi R on Tuesday 03 April 07 18:21 BST (UK)
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Hi folks
the gent on this picture lived through the war only to be killed with the the other 103 men in the William Pit disaster. He was one of the last three unrecognisable men to be brought out identified only by his new clogs I would like to find out his regiment and what that medal ribbon is
Thanks folks
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Superficially, the medal ribbon looks to me like the British War Medal from WW1. ???
It doesn't immediately strike me as any of the usual WW2 medals.
That doesn't seem to fit though ???
The red patch isn't a regimental badge, but rather a divisional flash or some other formation sign. Not an area I know much about. What is it though, a knight on horseback?
The blue shoulder flash above that would likely be his regiment, but it's totally unreadable. Can any more be made out in the original picture? If so we might need a high resolution scan of the badges.
Neil
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Hi Andrew
Has the picture been coloured up, either by traditional or digital methods?
Wendi :)
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it looks like a war medal to me as well,mack
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its the parachute regt,mack
How can you tell mack? Educate us!! ;D ;D
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its the parachute regt,mack
How can you tell mack? Educate us!! ;D ;D
sorry andy,i thought it was the para brigade patch,but i think ime wrong,mack
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Unfortunatly this is the only photo I have and it was sent to me electronically, it has been a black and white picture that has been tinted like they used fo do (sadly)
The soldier in it was only in his mid thirties when he was tragically killed in 1947, so the medal must be WW11
Andrew
Sad really, survived the war and like many men around here go back to the mines only to be "blown up" and buried in a mass unmarked grave
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I've just been looking on e-bay and have came up with a regimental badge for the Royal Horse Guards - now I know nothing about about the RHG, so how do I find out about the shoulder/division flash??
Andrew
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i think we've the problem we have is that we are trying to identify what the colourist thought the medal ribbon should look like :(, he may have been looking at WW1 ribbons and gone with that???
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The formation sign of a white knight with lance on a white steed with red background is that of the 8th Army Corps and was used by that group in (and from) 1943.
old rowley
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The fact that he only has the one ribbon suggests that it should be the Africa Star. I believe that the ribbon for this star was being worn before the end of the war.
Steve
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Lots of photos got ruined by colouring
I have an Africa Star of my dads here, but his regiment The Royal Artillery is easy to identify ut this is puzzling - I have asked for a better scan to be sent but the photo is in really bad condition
It really would be a shame if I can't solve this as what I have heard about this man is incredible
Andrew
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Hi Andrew
Are you in touch with the relations of this man?
I'm kinda presuming that your interest is in the Pit Disaster
Wendi :)
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His Son is my brother in law and died before his son was born, someone came across a few details and things and asked me if could find anymore
Someone was writing a book and it spurred my sister into wanting to get more too late for the book but
He was one of the last three bodies to be brought out and only recognised by his clogs apparently
Andrew
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Andrew if his son is his next of kin he is entitled to his service record, which would widen your knowledge.
It is available to him via http://www.rootschat.com/links/014s/
Any questions give me a shout ;)
Wendi :)
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Thanks for that I have literally just got my fathers today. which during his time as a reservist I've got a mention on as an excuse for leave from camp
Thing is the only thing we have is a name and date of birth of the one I am searching
Andrew
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The great news is if you follow the link I gave the VA have relaxed their criteria to just what you have !!!!
Wendi :)