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More info, searched the national archives and found the medal records section, this is useful, as they hold all of the records for all army awards issued during WW1. These have been scanned and catalogued, copies can then be bought. Cpl G.F. Elsdon had 2 medal cards! one containing the Mention In Despatches, the other card containing the record of medals awarded. These can be hard to interpret, and it took me a while, but there are references linked to the London Gazette, which give publication and page No. for details that have been published in the newspaper, this can be promotions in the case of officers or in my case, the mention in despatches, although no details of what happened, just a name in a list of other names. Also found out seperately that the "Romanian" award was listed in the London Gazette, it was an 8 page list of names, with permission given by the King to wear the decoration as awarded by the King of Romania. Everybody from Field Marshal Haig downwards is on there, i havent counted, but there cant be that many awards, so it seems a bit of a rarity. This is an example of the British medals he was awarded. The 1914 (Mons) Star with Bar and Rose, War medal and Victory Medal, the only difference is that there should be an Oak leaf on the ribbon of the Victory Medal denoting the "M.I.D." (Mention In Despatches). The 1914 Star is "Rare" compared to other WW1 medals, 360,000 awarded, as this was for actions between Aug - Nov 1914, which means Cpl Elsdon survived the entire war from the very beginning to the very end, which must of put him amongst the few.

Just found a website covering this before i came back here, basically saying the same thing. The medal is the same as in the picture, the one i have is the Silver 2nd Class medal as stated on the certificate, although the ribbon is different in colour, Being Dark Blue, blue,white and orange. Not to sure what the award was for, or for the area of operation, Macedonia? I did see on another regimental site that foreign awards recognised by british government were announced in the "Gazette" this is one that falls in that category. Rick W, dont suppose you would know what 2 Battalion, Rifle Brigade were doing around about 7th November 1917! i.e. in which part of the world were they huddling in a sloppy trench. I have sent all of the above info to the curator of the Rifle Brigade Museum (latterly known as the Royal Green Jackets), so waiting for a reply. I will get the pictures sorted out as soon as possible.

Here we go, everything i have so far on Corporal G.F. Elsdon of the Rifle Brigade. I believe that my great great Uncle, George Forder Elsdon, served with the Rifle Brigade through the first world war, his details from medals and other paperwork are as follows:- Rifle Brigade No. 6934 Corpl G.F. Elsdon 2nd Bn (Info taken from certificate "Mentioned in Despatch" 7th November 1917 from Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, recording his majestys high appreciation of services rendered, and signed by Winston Churchill Secretary of State for war, certificate dated 1st March 1919). From medals the following info: 6934 PTE G Elsdon 1/RIF.BRIG (On a star marked "Aug 1914 Nov") 6934 CPL.G.F.ELSDON.RIF.BRIG. (1914 -1918 Medal) Also i have a strange medal and certificate, i think it is Romanian? the medal has BARBATIE SI CREDINTA on the rear, the certificate has the following inscription:- ___ Ministerul de Rasboiu Brevet Noi ministru secretar de stat la departmentul de rasboiu adeverim ca prin inaltul decret No. 371 din 5 Februarie 1920. Majestatea la regele a binevoit a conferi Medalia Pentru,, Barbatie si credinta Cu spade clasa II-a Capuralului G.F. Elsdon, din Armata Britanica (6934) (Signed) Ministru de Rasboiu. General (?illegable) Directorul Superior al personalului. Colonel (?Illegable) No. 4394i (Dated) 1920 Februarie 5 ____ And i have a Postcard sized Photograph showing Corporal George Forder Elsdon in a very worn uniform! When i get access, i will scan the paper stuff and the photo and post here. Anybody know how to find out about mention in despatches stuff etc??????

Have a good look on the internet for the best deal as well, it can range massively on the same TV!

I have recently found some information about a relative who served in WW1 and survived. Not 100% on where in the family tree he was, yet to be confirmed. However on his return home, a postcard was made with his picture on it, stating that he was the most decorated veteran of his town, i have yet to obtain this, but it is coming, along with anything else, medals etc that remain. I do know that he was called George F Elsdon and served with the Rifle Brigade, and that he was a Corporal. Any help with pointers as to where to look for research etc would be greatly appreciated!

Before you go and spend large wads of cash on dizzy etc, check the dizzy shaft, get hold of the shaft that the rotor arm attaches to and see if you get significant play side to side, this indicates the bushes are worn and probably time to replace. If not take it off and give the mechanics of it a good clean and lubricate. Dont bugger around, firstly for a few quid get the consumable ignition stuff, like plugs, points, condenser, leads, rotor arm and dizzy cap changed out for new, and get it set up right, put it all together while the distributor is off, then replace the full assembly and set it up using the static timing info as per handbook. See how it runs, considerably better i should think, even if the carb is FUBAR. If the carb is still at fault then change the carb, you can take them apart repair kits etc, but the body is probably warped, a common fault. make sure you set it up correctly when fitting. Basically make sure all of the other regular service stuff is checked at the same time, air filter cleaned, engine breathers cleaned, and tappets adjusted. If you skimp and only do one bit of servicing, you will be constantly chasing other faults, and have a poor running vehicle using a fortunes worth of petrol. Most things can be rectified with a damn good service, and changing out the lubricant, and keeping it topped up in the engine, boxes and diffs all helps All of the above would be a good days work on your tod,but the difference will be remarkable. The reason i know, i bought an S3 24v FFR with all of the above faults and had it running like a sewing machine, and it never gave me a moments trouble for the 2 years i had it, and that was including some very harsh Scottish winter use. If you are short on wad, (And who isnt) have a look on e-bay, under military, there are plenty of sellers with shops that have cheap parts, accrue everything you need and hit it in a oner! :tup:

We used LWB FFR landrovers on our unit, with arctic kit. The blinds are as above, canvas, which rolled/buckled when not used. The heater was quite a large affair, situated where the middle seat would be, with a metal pipe running through the bulkhead at floor level on passenger side with a large tap valve for turning off the hot water supply to the heater. From the heater box ran ducting hose (It was a black cardboard type bendy tubing) up to the roof, attached to the "Dexion" which went over each door window to a vent and to the front screen each side having its own vent, this was to keep the windows clear, it would keep them warm enough for snow to slide off, when driving, the heater motor been reasonably powerful. We used them in Norway, our role was to support the Harrier force. In the event it all went pear shaped, potentially we could of been hitting ruskie from Scandinavia. If anybody knows of a landy 109 FFR with hardtop 17KA50 i would be most interested!!

Rick W mentioned tracing relatives, a while ago there was a memorial stone that had been rescued and the entire history of the individual on it was found, all on here, absolutely fascinating!!, which has led me to go and find out some family history of my own, and would like to put out to some of the more experienced individuals to give me a hand with. Also adds another dimension to vehicle ownership.

I think its great that stuff in that condition is been found/still to be found!

Thats what i like about my Austin Gipsy, British from the beginning to the end!

Does that mean there will be "Redcoats" at W&P 2009!! :rofl:

:schocked: You are kidding! your Antar comes from one of the RAF's finest eras, the early Jet age! Hunters, Canberras, lightnings and the Nuclear V bomber force, your truck was a BIG player in the logistics for the RAF in the Cold War!! So go and stick that in your pipes "Its Postwar and not green brigade" and smoke it!! :computerterror2: :banme:

After a short time with the Scouts (You can only tie so many knots and woggles) i joined the Air Training Corps where they gave you a free uniform and let you loose blasting away with .303 Lee Enfields, and flying De Havilland Chipmunks !(A lovely and very forgiving aircraft) and every year they sent you on a summer camp to an RAF base where you got to shoot more stuff and fly in bigger stuff and ride around in trucks and Land Rovers etc. So the intro was very good from a young age! :evil: Then joined the RAF, got to play with some really good military toys, and in my spare time started tinkering on old Triumph cars, Heralds, Spitfires etc, then helped a mate race his Capri 3.0S in the Slick 50 Saloon Championship, which was great fun, then got into TVR's and trialling Land Rovers. Then I left the RAF and bought an ex Army series 3 FFR 109, which was mint by the time i finished with it, and then flogged it :cry:, had a brief period with a big yank V8, then seen the Humber and that was it, back to machines painted "British Fighting Green" which i have got to say gives me more satisfaction than any sports car ive had!

I read something recently about a vehicle recovered from a lake, the parts submerged in silt and boggy goo were like new, even down to paint and wood surviving, so i guess it could be conceivable, the first clip shows the tracks frozen, but i suppose the weight would overcome alot of seizure and grease lasts a long time.

Found this on You Tube, interesting as it shows a T34 in German markings? extracted from a swamp, there is 3 clips in total, interesting to see it rolling on its tracks after so long. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FtJkyd3JJWE

That's Useful info Tony, be interesting to see what FMW do as well.

Well you can blame the lack of funding for the British Film industry. I seem to remember that before "Memphis Belle" was filmed, that they wanted to do a film about Lancaster crews, but were overuled by the people with the bucks, as they wanted it to appeal to the bigger U.S. home market. It would certainly make a change to see a good modern produced film about Brits giving the hun a good kicking!

I'm with Clive on this one, anything which gets the message out to a new audience has to be a good thing, and if it takes a popular presenter to do it, so be it. I was moved by the fellow who started to get visibly cut up about been shot in the arm, and was losing a massive amount of blood who felt like he had failed because he couldnt continue to help his mates, and who after 60 years if he just lived one more day that would be good enough for him..... (This is one of the reasons im personally not into re-enactment i'm not worthy to wear that fellows uniform) From a historical point of view, i would of liked to have seen more of the german perspective on the battle, maybe have traced more survivors for their account, as it wont be long until they fade away. All in all, it doesnt really matter if it was about an american beach, i can see why they wanted to look at it, i.e. the high losses compared to other beaches, but they were all out to the same ends, and frankly long may they continue to produce programmes like that!

Is it likely that Deepcut Barracks would have the records for my Humber Pig, i have the military reg number etc, but it was released from service in 1967 prior to N Ireland kicking off, other than that i have no idea where it was used and with which units. Would it be worth sending £25 (Non refundable) to find out they dont have records for that period etc and what exactly do you get back from the search?

Also myth it wasn't the Officers flying Spitfires been the aces, although they didnt do badly, the highest scoring for kills (17) was a Sergeant Frantisek who flew with a Polish squadron in a hurricane.

Interesting procedure to go through for a visit, but they certainly have a stack of stuff, looks pretty vast, did anybody see the re-enactment stuff, normally not something that would interest me, but it certainly looks the part with troops following tanks etc.

So what is the recommended order for the wearing of multiple "Military awards". Example i have three of my own, plus two other generations of Elsdon's ??

The pickups are good motors, dad had one for years, filled to capacity with rocks and wood and driven offroad most days, never a moments problem. I have also heard that the 3.0 diesel Surf is the one to get. Looked at one prior to getting the Shogun (Which is fantastic!!)

I have been on a number of other forums, and the idiot reply ratio is quite high, mainly because they hide behind a handle. Then again, i can see why people prefer a pseudonym, and i personally dont find it an issue here on HMVF, as you have the PM route if you really want to find out who they are. Maybe an area location, on the bottom of the Avatar would be handy so you can contact/PM somebody local to you.