THE BULLETIN Issue 300 May 2025

The May Bulletin marks an important milestone for the MHS in that it is the 300th quarterly edition that we have published since Number 1 in August 1950. All credit is due to the past and present members of the General Committee, to the authors and to all who have contributed to the Society throughout the past 75 years. Principal articles in the May Bulletin include: Tributes to Colonel Peter Walton and Martin Windrow; badge notes; a short article on the new Cayman Islands Regiment; a comprehensive article on the uniforms of the Montgomery Yeomanry; short articles on the military artists Ernest Howell and the insignia worn by Honorary Physicians and Surgeons to the Sovereign; two articles on Jewish RAFVR and RN veterans of WW2 and a ground breaking account of the formation and work of the little known Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force (SAARF); a short summary of the campaign in Greece during WW2; book reviews and correspondence which includes even more information on the Iroquois Ambulance Corps and definitive information on South African police gallantry badges.

THE BULLETIN Issue 299 February 2025

The February Bulletin was distributed in the penultimate week of February.

Principal articles cover: Tributes to Colonels Tim Wright and Robin McDowell; a note on the proposed new capbadge for the RAChD and notes on new badges being introduced into the British Army to reflect the formation of the RAMS and the accession of King Charles III; a short article on the Claro Rifles; an article on the return of the Guards from the Crimean War and their Band music; Uniforms of The Royal Midlothian Yeomanry, 1797-1872; a comprehensive overview of the British Indian Army and the contribution of the Punjab; a short article on the little known Royal East India Volunteers; the fascinating saga of the Special Air Service Parachute Badge (wings) being worn on the left breast above medal ribbons; short articles on Lt Col Dr Ernest Wool Lewis VD – Surgeon, Soldier & Tennis Champion; additional information on the Iroquois Ambulance Corps and a piece on Herbert Timbrell McClellan From Trooper to Lt Col. As usual the Bulletin includes short reviews on recently published military books and a correspondence section which includes a query about what appear to be scarce South African police gallantry badges.

THE BULLETIN Issue 298 November 2024

The November Bulletin was posted in the first week of November.

Principal articles cover: The Eversleigh Star; Beards Allowed!; Some Rare American Medical Unit Badges of World War Two and their British Connections; The Uniforms of the Middlesex Yeomanry (Duke of Cambridge’s Hussars), 1797-1900; and Brigadier John Bates Clements: Another Twentieth Century Warrior Par Excellence. There are also shorter articles on: The Society Exhibition; Badge Notes; Hull Golfers Volunteer Force; Army Rifle Association 100 and Army Reserve 50 Badges; together with the usual sections on Book Reviews and Correspondence.

SPECIAL NUMBER 2024

A Special Number entitled: Regimental and Drummers’ Lace, Button Spacing and Facing Colours of The British Army 1742-1871, by our editor, Gary Gibbs, was also circulated to all members together with the November issue of The Bulletin. This brings together all the known sources of information from General Order Books, Army Order Books, Clothing and Letter Books with a timeline of amendments and instructions.

The Special Number is 102 pages long and is lavishly illustrated with examples in full colour. It provides an excellent comprehensive review of the subject together with a complete reference to the design and colours of lace worn by each Regiment over a period of 130 years until lace the use of lace was discontinued in 1871.

CROWN IMPERIAL DIGITISATION PROJECT

The Society has managed to source a complete run of the now defunct Crown Imperial, with the exception of Issue Numbers:

6 (Winter 1975),

8 (Summer 1976) and

9 (Autumn 1976)

These issues will probably not be numbered and are presented as slightly larger than A5 stapled booklets of about 36 pages in the style of the Issue No 2 illustrated here.

The Society plans to digitise the archive of Crown Imperial and make it available to Members as a searchable database on the website.

If any member has a copy of any of these three early issues, we would be very grateful if we could borrow them to scan them (non-destructively!!). Please contact the Membership_Secretary

A NEW ADDRESS FOR THE SOCIETY & SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2025

The correspondence address for the Society has changed with immediate effect to: MH Society, P.O. Box 363, Alton, GU34 9LT. All other contact details remain the same.

SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2025

We are fast approaching the start of the new membership year which begins on 1 January 2025. Subscription reminder forms are included with the November Bulletin and subscriptions can be paid at any time without waiting for the start of the new year.

NEW MEMBERS

New members can join through the Society website. Choose Membership > Membership Application On-line from the top menu or contact the Membership_Secretary

ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2024

The Annual Exhibition was held jointly with the Aldershot Militaria Society at Waverley Abbey School, Farnham, on Sunday, 29th September, 2024 and was a great success. Entry to the exhibition is restricted to pre-registered members and invited guests and this format results in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Members are advised to book the date of SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2025 for the next Exhibition.

THE BULLETIN Issue 297 August 2024

The August issue of “The Bulletin” was posted on Monday 12 August 2024. Principal articles cover the Capture of Centuripe, Sicily in 1943;The Uniforms of the Lancashire Hussars, 1848-1900;The 1922 Disbandment of the Southern Irish Regiments; and Major Richard Scamander Clarke. Shorter articles include: The Inspection of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment 2024 ; and the Cavalry Memorial Parade 2024; together with the regular Badge Note, Book Reviews and Correspondence.

THE BULLETIN Issue 296 May 2024

The May issue of “The Bulletin” was posted on Friday, 3rd May 2024.

Principal articles cover: Bands by Numbers; Uniforms of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry 1819-1900; Canada’s Mobile Command Flag 1987-1991; Insignia of the Hampshire Yeomanry and Carabiniers. There are also shorter articles on: Badge Notes; Trial Uniforms; Lt Col Montagu Albert Ormsby; Infantry Glengarry Badges of the 76th Regiment of Foot; Bandmasters’ Promotions, Pay and Additional Incomes 1855-1920; The Green Cross Corps; together with the usual sections on Book Reviews and Correspondence.

MHS SPECIAL NUMBER 2023: The British Infantry Tunic 1855-1914 by Bryan Fosten

The 2023 Special Number entitled “The British Infantry Tunic 1855-1914” was circulated with the November Bulletin. It was written by the late Bryan Fosten and we are indebted to his family for allowing us to publish his unpublished manuscript and to our Editor, Gary Gibbs, a very close friend of the Fosten brothers, who has facilitated the publication. Readers will be very familiar with Bryan’s magnificent illustrations for the popular Osprey series of military titles and his own Thin Red Line publication. A full tribute is carried in the Special Number but, suffice it to say that, as a long-standing supporter of the MHS, it is hoped that this Special Number will serve as a lasting tribute to one of the finest military uniform researchers and illustrators of recent times.

THE REVIEW, DURBAR & THE BULLETIN

We are delighted to announce that we have been able to digitise the complete run of “The Review”, the Journal of The Naval Historical Collectors & Research Association. This is now fully searchable on the MHS website alongside the complete runs of “The Bulletin” and “Durbar”. Members are able to search both titles and text and can view the entire articles. Non-Members can also search on key words to find the titles of relevant articles, but are not able to view the text without becoming a Member of the Society. Go to the Search button on the top menu of the website.

MHS SPECIAL NUMBER 2022: RECONSTITUTION – The formation of the Armies of India and Pakistan – August 1947

The ground breaking and superbly illustrated Special Number for 2022 by Tony McClenaghan entitled "Reconstitution - The Formation of the Armies of India and Pakistan - August 1947" was circulated to all Members of the Society with the November issue of The Bulletin. With the cooperation of our own Member, Sqn Ldr Rana Chhina in Delhi, and Ian Maine and his team at the National Army Museum, who worked magnificently to provide information and illustrations from the Field Marshal Chapple Collection of Indian Army badges which they now hold, this Special Number is set to provide a definitive and enduring guide to the subject. The publication starts with a 20-page essay on the background to and the process of Reconstitution and is followed by 76 pages illustrating and describing the pre- and post-1947 badges of the various Regiments and Corps. The issue concludes with a 5-page bibliography. The work is complemented by a newly drawn Map of the Indian Army Regimental Centres (excluding Gurkhas) in August 1947 which is folded in a pocket on the inside back cover.

Further copies are available to both Members and the public at £12 plus postage through the Society Shop on the website.

VERY SPECIAL OFFER - THE INDIAN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL – LAST 3 COPIES

by Sqn Ldr Rana Chhina MBE IAF Retd. Hardback, 359pp, 12pp Illustrations.

Published in India in 2001, and available in limited numbers in the UK at £29.95 plus p&p, the author has generously offered the small number of remaining copies to the Society and we are delighted to be able to offer copies at £10 per copy including p&p to customers in the UK. Unfortunately, the book weighs more than 1kg and so postage costs will increase the price to overseas customers. Nevertheless, the book will still be excellent value at £10 plus an additional postage charge of £10 to Europe, £20 to Zone 1, £24 to Zone 2 (Australasia & Singapore) and £27 to USA.

To order a copy, please go to the Shop > Special Numbers (top menu) or email IDSM@mhsorg.uk

“The Indian Distinguished Service Medal” by Rana Chhina remains the only comprehensive record of one of the two uniquely Indian gallantry awards of the British Indian Armed Forces. Indian troops were not eligible for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and so the IDSM was introduced in 1907 to recognise an equivalent level of gallantry. The IDSM was awarded sparingly, with just over 5,600 awards made between 1907 and 1947, of which around 3,100 were made for service during the First World War. By comparison, the DCM was awarded on around 25,000 occasions during the First World War alone.

Rana Chhina’s book includes a comprehensive account of the origin, development and description of the IDSM, and the institution of first and second award bars. It goes on to provide a complete roll of all recipients, by regiment or corps, listed in chronological order based upon the date of the General Government Order (GGO) authorising the award. Each entry includes number, rank, full name, the date and theatre of award and, where known, details of other awards and whether replacement medals were issued. The roll is split into two parts: 1907 to 1922 and 1922 to 1947 in order to reflect the reorganisation of the Indian Army in 1922 which led to changes in many unit titles. The final Section of the book comprises seven Appendices giving tables of units, summaries of award by unit, a summary of awards by year and obverse, representative award citations and an index to London Gazette entries between 1923 and 1947. There is also a comprehensive bibliography and index.

Rana Chhina, will need no introduction to anyone with an interest in the military history of India. ‘The Indian Distinguished Service Medal’ is an essential reference for everybody with an interest in the twentieth century Indian Army before 1947 and at £10 it represents outstanding value for money.

MHS Special Number 2021: BRITISH ARMY HEADDRESS 1939 to 1945 by Jon Mills

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new Special Number for 2021. Jon Mills will be well known to the militaria collecting fraternity and his latest publication will be very welcome and well received. This Special Number, with 96 pages, is nearly double the size of regular Special Numbers, which enables a wide coverage of Army headdress, including service dress, berets, Tam O’Shanters, glengarries, pith helmets, tropical and cold weather hats and a range of protective headwear. As well as breadth of style, the booklet also covers a wide range of units including Middle East forces, Airborne, Commandos, Water and Railway Units, ATS, Nurses, FANY and allied forces uniformed in the UK. The book is extremely well referenced and, although it is titled 1939-1945, it contains a wealth of information on the background and development of many types of headdress during the late 1800s, through World War 1 and in the inter-War period. The book is also lavishly illustrated with colour photographs of hats and black & white photographs of the hats being worn by a variety of ranks and regiments.

All Members of the Society automatically received a copy of this Special Number with The Bulletin in November 2021 as part of their annual subscription. Further copies may be obtained by Members or the public at a cost of £12 plus £2.00 p&p (UK rate). Overseas postage for a single copy is £4.50 (Europe), £6.00 (International Zones 1 & 3) and £7.00 (Australia, New Zealand, Singapore & Pacific Islands). Go to Shop > Special Number > Item No. S028.

SOUTHERN BRANCH MEETING PROGRAMME FOR 2025

Monthly meetings take place at the Boys' Brigade Hall, Sawmill Lane, Dorchester at 13.00 hrs on Saturday afternoons. Members are invited to contact Geoff Pulman on 01308 424799 for further details and all Members are invited to consider giving a talk to the group. The meeting dates for 2025 are:

18 January, 15 March, 19 April, 17 May, 21 June, 19 July, 20 September & 22 November.

Photograph courtesy of Jaggery.©

SOCIETY SHOP

Back numbers of The Bulletin, Durbar and Special Numbers can be ordered from the shop. However, please note that the back numbers of Durbar are held in a separate location. Combined orders for MHS & IMHS publications will therefore be despatched by different people and incur two postal charges.

It is also worth reminding potential customers that Members of the Society can search, read and download the entire run of ‘The Bulletin’ (from 1950 until today) and of ‘Durbar’ (1984-2020) and ‘The Review’ (1988-2015) on the website. For a very reasonable membership fee, now might be a good time to join the Society to obtain access to this historical archive, as well as receiving all the current publications as soon as they are issued. Go to “Membership” on the top menu of this site.