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Re post 1620 The 'Ministry of Transport' (MOT) was introduced in 1960 under the Powers of the Road traffic Act 1956. Steve R

Astonian (Post 13) Not a new Police station in the true sense of the word but a very large more efficient custody block to replace several smaller custody blocks around the West Midlands Police area. Well publicised in the local press Steve R

One of the nicest Birmingham Pals items that I own I presume this was put together by the soldiers love one or mother. Very nice case when once opens reveals a picture and the words 173 Private Vincent Charles Reeve of the 15th Battalion (2nd Birmingham Pals) On the right is one of the...

Interesting thread about the Normandy landing. I have been several times now and would suggest it is well worth a visit. Each time I go there is another site that has been excavated or another museum with excellent display and description of the fighting around that area. On one visit I found...

I have just seen this thread. Firstly agreed there are soldier of the first war period as the tunic they are wearing are of that pattern. Secondly Puttees, it is well documented that these were used to prevent stones and other annoying objects hitting the trouser and then entering the boot and...

Malta Spot on my friend. His was an example of bravery that would be lost on many people today. He was the first but many others followed. Have you ever read the 'After the battle' magazine on Normandy? Fantastic magazines written by enthusiasts who visit the battlefields and compare them to how...

Malta I have only just come across this thread and impressed by the information you have supplied. I am aware of Dan's exploits having read the books and visited the bridge over the river Orne on a few occasions. This area is well worth a visit and the fairly new museum is very good. The...

This is the grave of the first Birmingham Pal to be killed in action. Together with the other soldiers of the three battalion 1202 Arthur Hackett landed on the 21st November 1915. There then followed a long March to the front lines and he was then one of the first to enter the trenches to spend...

More relics from the Somme and all taken from the fields where the Birmingham Pals fought 1st is a stock pile of artillery shells in a farm. The second is a British Stokes Mortar rounds, the third was taken in the same farm as the first and the fourth shows a German clip of five live...

More items in the fields the first is part of a Bullet and the second is a piece of leather from a boot or equipment followed by a complete live bullet in the Somme mud. Many of the items that remain could well have been made in Birmingham as Peace time industry transformed into war time...

Friends who know I often travel to the Somme ask why I go and what is there to see. I think it is the scale of sacrifice that draws me to the Somme and I wish to pay my respects by placing crosses for myself and other people who cannot make it overseas. Most fighting took place in trenches out...

Maypolebaz I took it as that. I wander if they were related I will see if I can find a Tom Creswell, probably in the 3rd pals who went to Malvern to continue training. Steve R

Hello Lyn You are welcome. I was going to take a new picture of the memorial for you but most of it is currently covered in scaffolding whilst they tidy it up for the 100 anniversary of the Somme battles next year. I have taken many pictures for people in the past who have relatives on this...

A group of four soldiers from the Warwickshire Regiment. The guy on the right is wearing the Pals Cap badge. This is certainly very late in the War, perhaps when the war had finished as the chap on the left has four overseas service stripes on his right arm and the definite Pals soldier on the...

Another unusual post card The chap centre back has not taken this pic very seriously at all. He is wearing his cap back to front and has his tongue out. The rear of the card has Charlie Lodge The Royal Warwickshire Regiment 15th Service Battalion ( 2nd Birmingham Pals) Perhaps the chap...

Interesting post card this one. Both men in the picture are Birmingham Pals but I am not sure of their identity. Looking at the rear of the picture it has been sent to A Cresswell at the Parade Ground Powells Pool. My records show a private 833 Creswell of the XVI Platoon in D Company 2nd...

Thought I would add a picture I took of the Theipval memorial last October. This is a Memorial to the Missing soldiers of the Somme, written on its walls (peers) are the names of more than 72,000 Soldiers of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the first World War who have no...

Hello Maria I will see what I can do re the picture. There is a book called 'The hell they call High Wood' think it was by Terry Norman. I do not have a copy any longer but well worth a read as it details the fighting around that area at the end of July. This area was savagely fought over for...

Lance Corporal 23821 Walter Holton was a member of the 1st Battalion. This Battalion were originally part of the 14th Brigade in 5th Division and landed at Le Havre 15 August 1914. On the 12 January 1916 they transferred to 95th Brigade in same Division (see long long trial website)...

Some interesting views on medals. I have never been in the forces but do collect medals mainly from the first war. As you would imagine there is a criteria for a medal to be issued, some get them for doing very little service and hit the qualifying period and others get exactly the same for...