Thread: Legion Of Frontiersmen?

Lt. Wilbur Dartnell, VC

On 3 September 1915, near Maktau, Kenya, during a mounted infantry engagement, the enemy were so close that it was impossible to get the more severely wounded away. Lieutenant Dartnell, who was himself being carried away wounded in the leg, seeing the situation, and knowing that the enemy's black troops murdered the wounded, insisted on being left behind, in the hope of being able to save the lives of other wounded men. He gave his own life in a gallant attempt to save others.


Samuel Pearse, VC

On 24 August 1919, north of Emtsa, North Russia, Sergeant Pearse cut his way through enemy barbed wire under very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and cleared a way for the troops to enter an enemy battery position. He then charged a blockhouse which was harassing the advance and causing casualties, and killed the occupants with bombs. A minute later he was killed, but it was due to him that the position was carried with so few casualties.


Edward Kenna, VC

On 15 May 1945 near Wewak, New Guinea, when fire from a Japanese bunker was holding up the company's advance, Private Kenna stood up in full view of the enemy less than 50 yards away and engaged the bunker, firing his Bren gun from the hip. The enemy returned the fire and bullets actually passed between Private Kenna's arms and body. Undeterred, he remained completely exposed and went on firing until his magazine was exhausted, when he continued with a rifle. As a result of his gallantry the bunker was taken without further loss.



Not to be scoffed at, although, that said. Those in the page one photo don't appear up to quite the same standard.

C

I don't know about the legion officers, I get the impression it is an internal appointment with no legal basis on a "face fits" basis.

Originally Posted by semper

i also asked earlier on but it wasn't answered do the officers within the Frontiersmen have a proper officers commission as fromt he crown or would it be an internal appointment.
some of the prominenet frontiersmen has DSOs, VCs, KCs after their names

I really do not know. I suspect any "Officer"appointments are within their own organisation, as with Saint Johns Ambulance.

Obviously, some of the Frontiersmen did join the military and received a "proper" Commission. Their history page shows they provided large numbers of men to form military units in the past.

The comparison with St John (no 's') Ambulance is interesting. St John has HM Queen as its Sovereign Head; commissions are signed by the Grand Prior, the Duke of Gloucester. They are internal appointments. St John ranks bear close similarity to army ranks because the St John Ambulance Brigade (as we know it) was started by Sir John Furley, who also happened to be the top man in the forerunner of the RAMC.

Like the Frontiersmen, units formed of St John personnel served in both world wars. In WW1 there were a number of field ambulance units, and in WW2 the first reserve unit which reported for service, as a formed unit, was the St John RNR Sick Berth Attendants.

/anorak

You are correct about the 'no - "s" ' (blame my fingers....)

Some of the St John decorations or medals are permitted for wear with military uniform as well.

Originally Posted by 5_mile_sniper

It's a bad picture, but that fatty in the middle appears to be toting an old "Broom Handle" Mauser

However, I suspect I'm taking crap and it's actually an air pistol :D

This is what they do at weekends. From Monday to Friday, you'll find them working in any Regt/Bn HQ, where they are instantly recognisable by their dodgy green berets and tippex stained trousers.

The RAO is the bloke in the middle, proof reading Pt 1 orders.

Originally Posted by Baddass

The RAO is the bloke in the middle, proof reading Pt 1 orders.

"ooooOOOOoooHHHH!" (cluthces handbag to chest.) :D

It may not be tipex.

RAOs do tend to be wankers, after all...

Originally Posted by RCSignals

Some of the St John decorations or medals are permitted for wear with military uniform as well.

Military qualification badges such as para wings or aircrew wings can be worn with St John uniform.

The Order of St John is an order of chivalry, all their decorations and medals (less Brigade long service) are personally authorised by HM Queen, which is why they can be worn with uniform.

What about the 'First Aid Nursing Yeomany' (FANY to you)

A Para-Military 'All Female' Organisation.

Or their new name:

'Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps' (PRVC - not as good as FANY mind you!)

http://www.fany.org.uk/main/index.html



Female SOE agents (Spy's) were commissioned into the FANY during WWII

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

What about the 'First Aid Nursing Yeomany' (FANY to you)

A Para-Military 'All Female' Organisation.

Or their new name:

'Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps' (PRVC - not as good as FANY mind you!)

http://www.fany.org.uk/main/index.html



Female SOE agents (Spy's) were commissioned into the FANY during WWII

Good question: what the feck are the FANYs all about? Back in the good old days at Duke of Yorks they were handily placed for providing bedtime companions for members of 10 Para and 21 SAS but I was fecked if I could work out what they actually did, other than polishing the photographs of their famous WW2 predecessors...

Back in the good old days at Duke of Yorks they were handily placed for providing bedtime companions for members of 10 Para and 21 SAS

One or two of them could knock back the ale at the pub on Sloane Square, too. Monday mornings could be painful.

They do whatever is required of them from providing linguists, crisis management for the capital and emergency first aid cover as well as collecting a pool of " nice gels" who look pretty smart in combats with a relatively small number of space hoppers in evidence.

I met one of FANY's senior people at a Civil Contingencies meeting - stout brogues, kevlar tweed suit and loud voice. One of their functions is to assist the police with the casualty bureau in the event of a major incident in London.

I think Poppy may be one....


Anyway, their web site is splendid:

http://www.fany.org.uk/