Tracing the owner of First World War medals

[Gash Handlin]

Apologies for asking a question that has been asked several times before...

Could anyone advise me of an online resource that would list the details of people awarded three campaign medals for the first world war (1914 star, British War Medal and Victory medal)

He was also awarded the MBE presumably shortly after the war.

The inscription on the campaign medals is for a Lieutenant so I presume he had risen through the ranks from the beginning of the war eventually being commisioned towards the end of the war.

Unfortunately, because he was an officer when he received the campaign medals the service number and regiment are not inscribed.

Anyone got any idea where I can begin to find this person. The medals were recovered in the search of a house which has turned up a large quantity of what is suspected to be stolen property and theres a good chance that if we can trace the owner of these medals they will own some of the other stuff which is worth a lot of money.

thanks in advance even if you can only post links to the other topics that have asked this type of question as I can't find any of them.

[Cpl Plod]

I've never heard of an 'on-line' way of checking medals, just a bit to new fangled for the military.

You could try contacting Squadron Leader Kim Galway (Personnel Management Agency Personnel Relations) on 01452-712612 ext 7083. PMA is the RAF agency that looks after medals, as well as other things.

If service knowledge serves me (and I'm sure I will be corrected if I'm wrong) the RAF didn't come into existence till 1918 (1 Apr) so the medals may have belonged to someone who was saving in the Army and then transferred to the RAF.

If not, I'm sure the nice people at PMA will be able to direct you to their counterparts in the RN & Army.

Good luck on your quest and let us know how you get on.

[Gash Handlin]

Cpl Plod,

Thanks for the PMA no.

You're correct about the date of the RAF formation, I'm pretty certain he was Army and not a transferee, He was ranked Lt when the campaign medals were issued and he had been in the BEF at the outbreak of war.

Anyone else got any suggestions, Army wise.

Thanks again. .Gash.

[Archimedes]

GH - you could try:

Army Medal Office, Government Buildings, Worcester Road, Droitwich, Worcestershire WR9 8AU

Hunting the chap down could be awkward, although from what you say, his being a BEF original could help: there weren't many left by the end of the war.

I suspect that the MBE will be most help: I guess it would be possible to discover how many Lieutenants were awarded the MBE, then to work out how many of them were 1914 BEF originals.

Also - probably a stupid question - have you tried circulating details among local constabularies? Seems hard to believe that someone wouldn't report the theft (if that's what's happened) of the medal set. Crimewatch?

[Brian Dixon]

GH,. .Have you considered placing something on a forum on <a href="http://www.servicepals.com" target="_blank">http://www.servicepals.com</a>

Also speak to your antiques officer to see if something can be placed in 'Trace' magazine.

There's also the Imperial War Museum, or the records office at Kew.

Good Luck. .Regards. .Brian

[blind pue]

Ref, the above mentioned Army Medal Office.Here's a telephone No 01905 772323 Good Luck

[Gash Handlin]

Thanks everyone, will give the army medal office a phone tomorrow

A bulletin of all the property recovered has been circulated to every police force in Britain, but unfortunately these things rarely generate the response you would imagine, crimestoppers and crimewatch are being looked at, we are desperate to not give this property back to the person it was seized from.

Thanks again.

p.s.

The thing that has my curiosity aroused most is that he has no gallantry awards and only the three basic campaign medals. I presume the rank inscribed on the medals is the rank at the time they were awarded i.e. at the end of the war. In which case he must have been a private at the start of the war and risen through the ranks, I cant imagine many Lt's getting through the whole war without a promotion. or would it be possible for someone to get injured in the opening year, sit out the rest of the war, get the three campaign medals and then be awarded MBE???

And a further question, anyone know the value of an original issue Military MBE with the Dark ribbon which was later changed to the current colours? It would be handy for the Report.

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: Gash Handlin ]</p>

[Archimedes]

GH - the requirements for the campagin medals were:

1914 Star For service under fire in France and Belgium, 5 August-22 November 1914. Includes sailors serving ashore.

British War Medal For service abroad (including India) 5 August 1914 - 11 November 1918, or 1919-1920 in Russia.

Victory Medal For military and civilian personnel who served in a theatre of war.

It would have been quite possible for the chap to have been in France in 1914-1915 (thus qualifying for all three), and then being sent to Home Establishment (as a result of wounds/sickness, etc making him unfit to serve abroad). He could, for instance, have been sent to a training establishment or recruiting office; commissioned at some point and not actually been back to France, so no opportunity for gallantry awards: however, as a result of good service, the MBE resulted.

Not an exact analogy, but Hugh Dowding, after commanding 9 Sq, then getting command of an RFC Wing, fell out with Trenchard and was sent back home to training and admin posts: he didn't leave the UK for the rest of the war. That's another story, but it shows it was possible!

[BTL LO]

GH. .All records for WW1 have been transfered to the Public Record Office at Kew. If you check in the Army list for 1918 at Kew, you should be able to establish a regiment. Also once you have a regiment you can dig out the service records and you would be able to find out if your man had any previouse non commisioned service. However tracing surviving family members would require quite a bit more research.

[DrSyn]

GH, I have just spoken to a friend who is a major collector of historical medals. He recommends contacting the Orders & Medals Research Society as they also maintain a complete list of all medals reported lost or stolen. He says that they are very helpful in such matters.

They have an excellent website at <a href="http://www.omrs.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.omrs.org.uk/</A> which should help you establish contact.

Hope this helps.

[Gash Handlin]

well this is the first chance I've had to check up on the mil forum since last Thursday.

Thanks for the additional links and organisations.

The story so far...

The Army Medal Office were very helpful, the chap I spoke to came up with two possibles from the name and medals awarded, one is very promising and I am trying to continue the search. The PRO even agreed to do a search for me, however the records for both people had been destroyed during WWII.

The next step is to try the regimental museums for the regt's involved but I will give the other organisations you have listed a shot.

Thanks again,. .Gash

[Brian Dixon]

Gash,. .I've checked the list of stolen medals on the OMRS website - Not there. Hope that saves you a job checking, although you may like to contact them with the information you have.

Anyone have any ideas about checking a list of MBE recipients? I can't find one on the net.

As to value of MBE, my 1998 Medal Yearbook gives a bracket of £45 - £65.

Hope this helps.. .Good hunting. .Regards. .Brian

[DrSyn]

Gash Handlin, further to BD's post, I have sent you an e-mail with more details. It was not my intention to suggest that the OMRS "lost" site was definitive - indeed I had not even looked at it. It is simply where registered members have bothered to post losses & thefts, not a complete record.

[Gash Handlin]

Brian, Thanks for the info, I cant find any MBE site either. I'll speak to my dad and get him to dig out the paperwork for his <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Dr Syn, reply on its way to you.