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I won’t describe all the errors, but this is a joke, actually.

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Hi guys here I have a US PASGT helmet which has been modified to be used by a paratrooper. The 3 modifications are the retention straps, the ensolite impact pad and the foam impact liner. The maker of the helmet is the UNICOR Corporation, a division of Federal Prison Industries based in Texas. The year of production is 1986 and is a size L7. The helmet cover is the 3 colour desert type which is dated 2001 and this particular cover succeeded the choc chip pattern in 1999. The cover has some markings on the cover ‘G-Unit 21 O+’ and the cats eyes band has the name Norris or Morris hard to tell with G-Unit marked on it. Thanks for looking guys cool militaria

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Here are the photos from DJ RZM 17
buckle very good condition,belt slightly worse.
if both belonged together I do not know:confused:

gr
mx

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The Evolution of Japan’s War Medals (1875-1945)

Prolog; Modernization of Japan, 200 years to catch up on

As the era of the Shogun and the Samurai drew to a close, and sovereignty returned to the Emperor in 1868, in what history refers to as the Meiji Restoration, Japan needed to embark on an all out drive to modernize the nation in order to survive and join the ranks of Western powers. This policy was called 富国強兵 (Fukoku Kyouhei, meaning to enrich the nation and strengthen its soldiers/army).

Western style modern industry, Rail Roads, The Constitution, Medical Research, Guns, War ships and so on was what this meant in concrete terms. But first, they needed foreign currency to import modern machinery from the west, and for that Japan had to export.

The key to this was silk that ladies in the west loved to have for their dresses. However, even if you had silk, you still had to get it to Yokohama to get it on ships to the USA, etc and this required a railroad system that could negotiate the mountain range that ran through the center of the Japanese archipelago, much in the same way the Rockies divided the USA in the middle.

The railway to the east and west of this central divide was built without undue difficulty, but a steep mountain pass stood between these two sections. The 28-year old man who was given the job of getting the train through this section was my great grandfather, Sanjiro Kikkawa. He was born into a Samurai family, whose job it was to serve as the personal guard for the Lord of Ogaki, but the end of the Samurai era transformed him into a government employee, more specifically a railroad engineer. He was sent to England to learn about railroad engineering and from there he came to Germany in 1888 to study the new railway they had built to negotiate the steep climb in the Harz Mountains. With this know-how he took home, he was finally able to conquer the notorious Usui pass, and in 1893, the first train chugged across.

The World Expos 1867 and 1873 and the Medals & Orders Development Mandate

I wanted to tell the little story above to show one small facet of what it meant for Japan to be reborn as a modern nation after it had opened itself to the outside world after a national isolation that spanned 200 years. We are talking about 200 years of catching up to do, and this meant that the kind of challenge my great grandfather faced needed to be overcome in myriad fields almost all at once by what must have been hundreds of bright young men with boundless energy, sent around the globe on missions to bring back knowledge that made such breakthroughs possible. Modern Japan was built by the young, who had to shoulder huge responsibilities hard to imagine today. But how does the inexperienced go about judging what was necessary for Japan?

To the fledgling country of Japan, World Expos were a huge source of such inspirations, as these Expos provided an opportunity for Japan to measure itself against other nations, learn of new technologies and make contact with the key people to bring such know-how to Japan. Just like a fledgling militaria collector making his first exciting excursion to the annual militaria shows of Europe and the USA, Japan went to the 1867 Expo in Paris.

Back then, even before the Meiji era, Japan was already relying on France for help in modernizing its army. Thus, the real historical military advisor which inspired the character played by Tom Cruise in the film, “The Last Samurai” was actually a Frenchman by the name of Jules Brunet, and “The Last Shogun”, Yoshinobu Tokugawa even wore a French general’s uniform proudly on occasion, which had been presented to him by Napoleon the Third. However, on occasions like Expos, the Japanese visitors met heavily decorated and bemedaled European dignitaries, and were made keenly aware that Japan was still lacking a western style system for recognizing and awarding military honors which could adorn their uniforms. Some important milestones in the development of Japan’s Medals & Orders were laid at these Expos, which I will not get into, as Expos are only backdrops to the story I wish to relate to you.

By the next World Expo in Vienna of 1873, the balance of power in Europe had shifted, and now Prussia, having defeated France, started to gain the attention of Japan.

In that same year, 1873, in the same manner that my great grandfather was assigned the task of studying western railroads, the government assigned another former 34-year old Samurai, Yuzuru Ogyu to the task of studying the system of how other nations honored meritorious deeds and develop an award system suitable for Japan.

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Here to share my newbie. Near mint and A real sweet eyecandy. Enjoy.

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The other WWII Welch regiment officers cap that arrived today. This one came from France and has the original owners named on a tag sewn inside it and also on a slip of paper tucked inside the foldup side. It also came with a collar attached shirt collar dated 1944 inside the cap which the seller never mentioned either of these so perhaps he never noticed them? Interestingly the date and makers stamp on the shirt collar is printed in reverse - I have flipped it in ms paint so it can be read correctly.

This cap is named to Dudley Edwin Thornton, who was originally with 2/5th Welch serving at home until he was transferred as a Colonel to Africa. He was a big collector of Welsh medals and the below is from when they were being auctioned after hs death

Colonel Dudley Edwin Thornton, CBE, ERD

The collection of medals to the 41st and 69th Regiments of Foot (The Welch Regiment) formed by the late colonel Dudley Thornton, CBE
Dudley Thornton died on 22 April 2009, just a week before his 90th birthday. Born in Surrey on 1 May 1919, he was brought up and educated in Bristol before embarking on a military career. He joined the Supplementary Reserve and was commissioned into the Welch Regiment as a Second Lieutenant just before the outbreak of World War II.

After serving in the anti-invasion forces on the south coast, he was sent to East Africa in 1943 to join the 18th (Nyasaland) battalion of the King’s African Rifles, and from there took part in the Burma campaign until the end of the War. Coming from a musical family helped his language skills and he learnt Chinyanja - and he played the flute which he always carried in his kitbag.

After the War he served with the Welch overseas, in Hong Kong, Singapore, Cyprus and Libya, before becoming the last Commanding Officer of the regimental depot in Cardiff and then Deputy Commander of the Welsh Brigade at Cwrt-y-Gollen, near Crickhowell.

He was awarded the CBE for his special contribution to the army of Malawi. He greatly enjoyed being back with soldiers he had fought with 20 years earlier, and commanded the army between 1965 and 1967. Colonial rule had just ended, Dr Hastings Banda was the country’s first president and it was a time of change and instability. He was absorbed in this challenge. His interest in military history was also put to good use in designing many of the emblems for the new republic.

He went on to other overseas postings in Europe and the Far East before retiring in 1974 to live in Burton Lazars, Leicestershire, with his wife Joan. Throughout his life he had a strong interest in military history and assembled a small collection of medals, badges and other militaria. He never really parted company with his regiment as almost immediately on retiring from the regular army he became a trustee and chairman of the Welch Regiment Museum in Cardiff Castle and remained deeply involved with it right up to the time of his death.

London Gazette entries for D E Thornton
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 27 FEBRUARY, 1945
The undermentioned 2nd Lts. (War Subs. Lts.), from Supp. Res. of Offrs. to be Lts., 28th Feb. J 945. with seniority as stated: — Welch R. Dudley Edwin THORNTON (72799), ist Nov. 1941.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 2 JULY, 1946
INFANTRY. The undermentioned Lts to be Capts. 1st July, 1946.— (War Subs Maj.)’ D: E. THORNTON (72799).
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 AUGUST, 1946
Welch R. Lt. (War Subs. Capt.) D. E. THORNTON (72799) to be Capt., ist July 1946. (Substituted for the notifn. in Gazette ((Supplement) dated 2nd July 1946.)
SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette OF FRIDAY, 22nd MAY, 1953
Welch. Capt. D. E. THORNTON (72799) to be Maj., 1st May 1953.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 DECEMBER, 1953
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to confer the award of the Army Emergency Reserve Decoration upon the following officers:— Welch. Capt. D. E. THORNTON (72799) (now Maj., Reg. Commn.).
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 14TH DECEMBER 1962
WELSH BRIGADE, WELCH REGIMENT, REGULAR ARMY Maj D. E. THORNTON, ERD (72799) to be Lt-Col 15th Sept 1962.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 14TH SEPTEMBER 1965
WELSH BRIGADE Welch Regiment REGULAR ARMY Lt-CoL D. E. THORNTON (72799) to be Supernumerary to Establishment, 15th Sept 1965.
FRIDAY, 3RD DECEMBER 1965
The undermentioned Lt.-Cols. to be Cols, on the dates shown: D. E. THORNTON, E.R.D. (72799), from Welch, 15th Sept. 1965.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, STH NOVEMBER 1974
Col. D. E. THORNTON, C.B.E., E.R.D. (72799) late INF. retires on retired pay, 25th Jul. 1974.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10th JUNE ,1967
C.B.E. To be, Ordinary Commanders of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:
Colonel Dudley Edwin THORNTON, E.R.D. •(72799), late Infantry, Commander, Malawi Army.

I have included a photo of him with his CBE.

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