Researching a Canadian Officer FSSF?

[hmsbrinmaric]

Hi Everyone,

I picked up a grouping in Nova Scotia a few years ago belonging to a Lt. George Flint among it were a pair of US Jump wings, Canadian Jump wings in bullion, several PPCLI items including a hat badge, 2 ID bracelets with his name on them, WWII and Korean War UN Medals and a FSSF patch and some other things.

I found that he was in PPCLI as a major is Korea and a Lt Col. when he was killed by a sniper in Eypgt in May1958. I have the entire UN investigation report.

What I can't find out is any of his WWII service history, anybody know where I might find this?

Thanks,
Keith

[pylon1357]

The National Library and Archives and Canada at 375 Wellington St Ottawa. Will have his service file. If proof of death can be established his file should be pretty much open for photocopying as he has been dead more than 20 years.

[1stcanpara]

I have him listed on the role for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. He qualified as a paratropper at Shilo on Sept. 11, 1943. The records that I have show that he didn't see any combat or active service with the Battalion. He did serve in Korea and died on a UN mission as you've already mentioned.

Gary

Hi Everyone,

I picked up a grouping in Nova Scotia a few years ago belonging to a Lt. George Flint among it were a pair of US Jump wings, Canadian Jump wings in bullion, several PPCLI items including a hat badge, 2 ID bracelets with his name on them, WWII and Korean War UN Medals and a FSSF patch and some other things.

I found that he was in PPCLI as a major is Korea and a Lt Col. when he was killed by a sniper in Eypgt in May1958. I have the entire UN investigation report.

What I can't find out is any of his WWII service history, anybody know where I might find this?

Thanks,
Keith

[hmsbrinmaric]

Thanks for the info guys. Here is a pic of the grouping just the way I got it. I don't think it was put together, I got it at an antique shop and paid almost nothing for it.

Keith

[Dudley]

Interesting.. He was killed in '58 in Egypt? What was he doing at that time over there?

[peter monahan]

Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. ("Mike") Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize for his intervention into the Suez Crisis of 1956 and, we like to think, more or less single-handedly invented "peacekeeping" as a concept and a UN activity. Lots of cCanadians have served in out of the way places, often in penny packets, and not a few have died "in the cause of peace" - we had a major killed in south Lebanon in the summer when the Israelis shelled a UN observation post (by "accident", but I won't go there.)

So, presumably Flint was doing soemthing similar in the Sinai in '58

My tuppence worth.

Peter

[byterock]

Look interesting but there are few thing missing from the grouping.

If he was a Regular Officer in 58 he would of had the CD plus if this was the Flint that was killed he you also have

UN Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UNTSO)
as his name was listed here.

His medals would of been court mounted as he would be wearing them regularly.

Looks like some one split up the mounting added new ribbons and place his WWII service in one mounting and maybe his post WWII service in another mounting?

Opp one more thing you can contact the Museum of the Regiments

Curator - Lynn Bullock
Phone: (403)974-2860
Email: curator@ppcli.com

She should be able to give you more details on this person if she has any.

[Adam H]

Flint was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration in accordance with Army Order 370 on 18 January 1954. (Thus almost certainly a Geo VI award) His rank at the time was Major, which corresponds with the info regarding him holding that rank in Korea.

He may also be entitled to the Queens's Korea Medal in addition to the UN Korea...however I cannot currently confirm this.

If he was killed while serving in UNTSO, his NOK may have also received a Canadian Memorial Cross. I would think if they did not, that at least one would have been entitled to be issued.

Don't think we can say his medals would have been swing mounted, but quite likely mounted in some fashion unless his periods of service were somewhat broken and he never got around to it. This would help to explain why the other medals have become separated from the rest of the group. Court mounting is pretty sturdy and you have to be determined to take a group apart once so mounted.

Cheers,

Adam

[hmsbrinmaric]

The entire UN investigation report on Lt. Col Flints death is online. I found it during a google search of his name. The is the same Flint that served from WWII through the time he was killed in 1958. The medals I have were all in the original issue boxes when I bought the lot. He was awarded the CD, that and his Canadian Korean War Medal were missing from the lot. The dealer said there was more stuff but he never got back to me. I tried to contact him several times but he never returned my emails or calls. It's a shame it got split up like that.

Keith

[Adam H]

It just dawned on me...I think I know where the other medals are...or at least were, until quite recently.

I'll have to ask the fellow when I see him again.

[byterock]

Ok so you mounted them?

[hmsbrinmaric]

I look forward to seeing if you locate the other medals and what's there.

I only took the medals out of the boxes to display them in the case.

Keith

[Adam H]

Well I am guessing that the other medals currently reside with a collector here. I saw him during the summer and he mentioned a PPCLI group...and I think it must be the same fellow.

By rights he would be looking to get the bits and bobs off of you, since he has what's the real "meat" of the group. I;m quite sure he has all the named medals, etc.

Next time I bump into him I will ask him and see if he still has it and wants the bits you picked up.

[force136]

FSSF Group

This lot looks a bit funny to me. For one it is a restrike Cdn Para Corps badge. Secondly it is a post war manufactured FSSF patch. It makes no sense to me if Gary is correct and the guy qualified at Shilo in Sept 43, why he would have FSSF items? The Force left for Italy in October 1943 and it is certain he did not go over with them. If he did qualify at Shilo, it is possible he did not go overseas with the Bn but with another unit. If this is so he may have joined the FSSF as a replacement. I have lists of officers somewhere and will look and see if he is there. This is the only scenario that could get him close to the Force. This is the only way he would have both US and Cdn wings and could have belonged to both units knowing what we know.

Ken

Thanks for the info guys. Here is a pic of the grouping just the way I got it. I don't think it was put together, I got it at an antique shop and paid almost nothing for it.

Keith

[hmsbrinmaric]

I have found someone to do the Research on Lt Col Flint and I should have his service records by the end of January. I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

The FSSF patch is an original cut edge US made patch. I've shown the piece to several patch collectors and they all said it was fine.

I'll post the info on Lt Col Flint as soon as I get it.

Happy Holidays,
Keith