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#31
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Just wondering if he may have been working in some marshalling function. The Corps of Commissionaires would sometimes do the duty of doormen in upper class hotels. I have a newspaper photo (sadly of terrible quality) of a member of the Corps wearing his full size MC, DCM and trio (where's that gone I wonder?), white gloves and a uniform very similar to this one. He was photographed outside a well-known hotel in Wellington, New Zealand. Wearing the SWB (with a safety chain, I think) would have told anyone that he "done his bit". A local body politician in the 1930's used to use a photo of him wearing his SWB so that he might get the vote of ex-servicemen! |
#32
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Last edited by Toby Purcell; 18-05-22 at 11:18 AM. |
#33
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Hi
No, I was only suggesting that he may have been performing a similar duty to the Corps. I do accept that the "C L" was for the Canadian Legion. Yes, you are correct in that even though the photo is pretty poor the uniform he is wearing is a dark colour so most likely blue. My interest was sparked by a friend showing me a Corps hat badge and this led to seeking out info on the Corps. I was also struck by the gentleman wearing his full size medals! |
#34
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#35
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An interesting paragraph from "The Commissionaires: An Organization with a Proud History" edited by John Gardam.
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British Legion/Royal British Legion , Poppy/Remembrance/Commemorative. Poppy and British Legion Wanted |
#36
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I think that they were called the NZ Corps of Commissionaires. They had a great big silver plated cap badge, much like the traffic officers of my youth. They (the traffic guys!) rode motorbikes and wore jodhpurs...... Look, given that you are as interested as I am, I'll post that photo when I find it. The guy's name was, again going from memory, Captain Howden or Houston. I think he got his decorations with the Royal Scots. |
#37
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Captain B Houston
Hi Toby
Here we go! Possibly THE worst photo you'll ever see but you can make out the badge and the medals...just. He was Captain Benjamin HOUSTON and he served with the Royal Highlanders. While looking for info on him, I found a post on a family history website from someone claiming to be a relative and wondering where his medals had gone to... Oh and the hotel was in Auckland. Article is from 14 February, 1934. |
#38
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British Legion/Royal British Legion , Poppy/Remembrance/Commemorative. Poppy and British Legion Wanted |
#39
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From : SUN (AUCKLAND), VOLUME IV, ISSUE 1033, 25 JULY 1930
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British Legion/Royal British Legion , Poppy/Remembrance/Commemorative. Poppy and British Legion Wanted |
#40
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If you are interested in CoC uniform and medals etc, have a look in my album. Some fairly rare images there. It seems fairly common for them to wear full sized medals.
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"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." |
#41
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#42
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Thank you Mike, it’s very interesting to see the insignia in full. Also the newspaper/documentary articles. It seems a shame that the NZ Commissionaires don’t appear to exist anymore.
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#43
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British Legion/Royal British Legion , Poppy/Remembrance/Commemorative. Poppy and British Legion Wanted |
#44
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Hi Mike
Well done! I think I'd missed that bit from the papers and, yes, that is the badge that I saw. The article mentions Major General George Richardson. He is buried in a large local soldier's cemetery amongst other ex-servicemen with no special memorial. The name "Inder" features in that same article and he was the lawyer for the Auckland Returned Soldier's Association. A friend recognised his service number on a small association badge and bought that off an online auction. |
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