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  #1  
Old 04-06-11, 03:25 PM
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David Moore David Moore is offline
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Default Introduction

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
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  #2  
Old 04-06-11, 04:00 PM
Peter J
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Welcome David,

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

All the best,

Peter.
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  #3  
Old 04-06-11, 04:42 PM
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Fatherofthree Fatherofthree is offline
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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
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  #4  
Old 04-06-11, 06:17 PM
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Sonofacqms Sonofacqms is online now
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Default Welcome

David, welcome to the forum from another Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire collector, lots of good info to be found here . . !
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  #5  
Old 04-06-11, 07:43 PM
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David Moore David Moore is offline
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Default Hello Brian

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fatherofthree View Post
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
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  #6  
Old 04-06-11, 08:19 PM
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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.
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  #7  
Old 04-06-11, 09:39 PM
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Fatherofthree Fatherofthree is offline
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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
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  #8  
Old 04-06-11, 09:50 PM
Peter J
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fatherofthree View Post
David.

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

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  #9  
Old 04-06-11, 09:50 PM
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Fatherofthree Fatherofthree is offline
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David.

Me again.

I got so excited reading your post that my brain went, (nothing new there), I'm not sure that Officers of the Pioneers wore the double scrolled badge, I've never seen one anywhere but I seem to remember that years ago somebody mentioned one.

I suspect that your Great grandfather was probably an other ranks.

I stand to be corrected though.

Regards

Brian
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  #10  
Old 04-06-11, 09:53 PM
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Fatherofthree Fatherofthree is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter J View Post

Peter me ole China.

Many thanks..Regards

GWE
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  #11  
Old 04-06-11, 09:55 PM
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Fatherofthree Fatherofthree is offline
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Hi David.

Me again again.

I've just read your post in relation to Andy's request and I see that he was in the 18th.

Looking forward to the piccie though.

Regards, (again)

Brian
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  #12  
Old 05-06-11, 10:12 AM
paj1 paj1 is offline
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Hi david
great bit of family history
welcome to the forum
regards julian
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  #13  
Old 05-06-11, 04:21 PM
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David Moore David Moore is offline
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Default Public Works Pioneer Battalion cap badge

Hi everyone, Thankyou all for your interest. I have taken pictures of the badge as requested. Points to note are that the shank has a crimp mark, there are no vent holes on the upper parts of the badge, no makers marks. The lower scroll is attached by three lugs, the central one is obscured by the shank but is semi-circular, the two outer ones are roughly triangular-which you can see in the photographs. I have never cleaned the badge and it still has remains of pink polish which is present on other WW1 badges in my collection. I have also included pictures of some of my latest finds, I am particularly pleased with the first pattern Australian rising sun badge and the South African Aviation Corps badge.

Best wishes Dave Moore.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg DSCN1077.jpg (98.1 KB, 222 views)
File Type: jpg DSCN1078.jpg (102.9 KB, 219 views)
File Type: jpg DSCN1082.jpg (95.8 KB, 118 views)
File Type: jpg DSCN1083.jpg (95.8 KB, 112 views)
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  #14  
Old 05-06-11, 05:09 PM
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David Moore David Moore is offline
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I have been studying for a nursing related degree, which has taken a lot of spare time. Now that this has almost finnished I will be researching my family history. Unfortunatly my Father and Granparents are no longer with us, but my Mother is going to speak to some elderly relatives. I recently got in contact with a great friend from school after about twenty years. He is a keen military historian and researched my wifes Great Uncle, Charlie Brand. He was a member of the Coldstream Guards and was sadly killed. The family story was that he was one of the first members of the Welsh Guards. We now suspect that it was his intention to transfer to the newly formed regiment as the family have Welch roots. Likewise I anticipate that I will clarify a few points and raise a few more questions. I will let everyone Know what I uncover.

I am not sure what rank my Great Grandfather obtained but he never received a commission. In approx 1985 I took the Public Works badge to a collector/dealer in Cambridge, he had one in his colection and told me that he had only handled two or three in thirty years of dealing and offered me a great deal of money. He told me that he had sold one bronze version. This in itself is not proof of an officers version existing for example, it might of been a reproduction badge or the scroll added at a later date to a veterans badge. But I have been looking ever since.

I have never sent pictures by e-mail before and it took me quite a long time to get the pictures, so I apologise for their poor quality.

Best wishes Dave Moore.
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  #15  
Old 05-06-11, 06:33 PM
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David Moore David Moore is offline
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Hi Brian, I have always ben led to believe that he was in the eighteenth Battalion but I hope to find out for sure when I do my research. Have you got names to any of the pictures? I think that it was My Great Grandfather Moore who served in this Battalion, my other Great Grandfathers name was Bland, both of them came from Ireland. My mother says that Grandfather Moore was tall and thin and Grandfather Bland was short and thin (about 5feet 2). Thank you again for your interest, its really great for me to talk to others about my hobby. I hope you like the pics and my latest finds. I am always amazed at what turns up, and always stay optermistic. I have looked for badges for years and years and then they suddenly appear. Good luck Dave.
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