Introduction

[David Moore]

Hi, I have been a member for a few months but have not got around to introducing myself properly. I am in my mid forties and have been collecting militaria and badges since I was about five. I have eclectic tastes and find it hard to specialise. I have about 450 cap badges in my collection, of all types shapes and sizes. I tend to buy from regular dealers who I visit a couple of times each month and am always amazed at what turns up. This way I am able to find out who they came from and what they came in with. My interests include military aviation, Brigade of Guards (Household Division), Public Works Pioneer Batt Middlesex Regiment, Norfolk-Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiments, 79th Armoured Division and general British cloth and metal badges. As a registered nurse I am interested in nursing and medical services. I also play the Highland Bagpipes and have a great interest in Scottish items. I have also just started to collect OTC and school badges.

Dave Moore

Welcome David,

There are one or two Norfolk buffs here on the forum; good to have you aboard.

All the best,

Peter.

[Fatherofthree]

Good evening David.

And a welcome from Hertfordshire.

I've got a couple of Middlesex Pioneer Battalion pictures that may interest you, I also collect to The Middlesex Regiment and I'm still searching for an elusive proper Pioneerss badge.

Regards

Brian

[Sonofacqms]

David, welcome to the forum from another Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire collector, lots of good info to be found here . . !

[David Moore]

Originally Posted by Fatherofthree

Good evening David.

And a welcome from Hertfordshire.

I've got a couple of Middlesex Pioneer Battalion pictures that may interest you, I also collect to The Middlesex Regiment and I'm still searching for an elusive proper Pioneerss badge.

Regards

Brian

Hello Brian, thankyou for your welcome. I am very fortunate in that I have my Great Grandfathers cap badge from the Middlesex Pioneer Battalion. I was clearing out my grandmothers loft about twenty five years ago and found it in a small tin of badges and coins, it still remains as one of my favourite finds. I intend to research both of my Great Grandfathers on my fathers side as they both served during the first World War. The Grand Father who was in the Middlesex regiment was recruited in Ireland and had previously served in the Boer war in a cavalry regiment. He left the army and worked as a horse drawn tram driver. He was then given the chance to learn to drive; when petrol buses first appeared. The family story is that he was amongst the volunteers sent to France in 1914 by London County Council to ferry troops back and forth to the front. He was gassed on several occasions and I think that it was during one of these times whilst recovering that he was a pioneer. My father thought that he ended the war as a member of the Machine Gun Corps.

Best wishes Dave Moore

[mooke07]

Welcome to a great Forum David.

I would recommend you using www.ancestry.co.uk to do your family medal entitlements and service records remembering that only a few have survived from WW1.

The Great War Forum is also worth joining for researching WW1 service.

Read the tips at the start on both so you are best informed and don't waste time and you will no doubt start collecting to all the units you have family history in like many of us.

Cheers Dean.

[Fatherofthree]

David.

You lucky man. What a fantastic find in the old loft. Magic. (Definitely need a GREEN WITH ENVY SMILEY THINGY)

Do you know which of the Battalions your Great Grandfather served with. If it was the 25th, and he was an Officer or NCO, I may have him in a photograph, I doubt if it was though, because I don't believe the 25th went to France.

However, I suspect that as he served in France, he was either 18th; 19th or 26th.

Now having re read your post, it may be that he was a Pioneer whilst recovering in the UK, which may mean that he was in the 25th.

Whatever and wherever he was, it's a great story.

I'd love to see a piccie of the badge, as I'm sure a lot of members would, with a provenance like yours it will help dispel a lot of myths and show good from bad.

Regards
Brian