The Queen's Jubilee 2022
Gentleman Aviator
At least we have both our ancestors’ hard-earned medals from WW2
I recently applied for and got my late father's Defence Medal. He was just getting a business going again in 1939, having lost his first business through bad debts (owed to him) in the 1930s; so he volunteered for the AFS (Auxilliary Fire Service) on 3rd September 1939!
The business kept going, but as a proud East Ender, he was a fireman in London throughout the Blitz and the rest of the War. Probably not the (relatively) quiet war he hoped for. Family anecdote has it that when they dished out the medals the conversation went thus:
Teeters Snr: "Who gets these medals then?"
Senior Chap: "Well, everyone gets one"
Teeters Snr: "Not worth having then is it?"
Pop, I venture to disagree. So after much research and a (surprisingly) small amount of paperwork, the medal and a certificate arrived last month from the Cabinet Office, a mere 76 years after the end of the War and 49 years after Pop "departed the fix". I look forward to wearing it on the right next Remembrance Day, (probably at least as well earned as the ones on the left!).
Apologies for thread drift, but the mention of WW2 medals struck a very important chord with me. And dust in the eyes again............
And you can still get them!
I recently applied for and got my late father's Defence Medal. He was just getting a business going again in 1939, having lost his first business through bad debts (owed to him) in the 1930s; so he volunteered for the AFS (Auxilliary Fire Service) on 3rd September 1939!
The business kept going, but as a proud East Ender, he was a fireman in London throughout the Blitz and the rest of the War. Probably not the (relatively) quiet war he hoped for. Family anecdote has it that when they dished out the medals the conversation went thus:
Teeters Snr: "Who gets these medals then?"
Senior Chap: "Well, everyone gets one"
Teeters Snr: "Not worth having then is it?"
Pop, I venture to disagree. So after much research and a (surprisingly) small amount of paperwork, the medal and a certificate arrived last month from the Cabinet Office, a mere 76 years after the end of the War and 49 years after Pop "departed the fix". I look forward to wearing it on the right next Remembrance Day, (probably at least as well earned as the ones on the left!).
Apologies for thread drift, but the mention of WW2 medals struck a very important chord with me. And dust in the eyes again............
I recently applied for and got my late father's Defence Medal. He was just getting a business going again in 1939, having lost his first business through bad debts (owed to him) in the 1930s; so he volunteered for the AFS (Auxilliary Fire Service) on 3rd September 1939!
The business kept going, but as a proud East Ender, he was a fireman in London throughout the Blitz and the rest of the War. Probably not the (relatively) quiet war he hoped for. Family anecdote has it that when they dished out the medals the conversation went thus:
Teeters Snr: "Who gets these medals then?"
Senior Chap: "Well, everyone gets one"
Teeters Snr: "Not worth having then is it?"
Pop, I venture to disagree. So after much research and a (surprisingly) small amount of paperwork, the medal and a certificate arrived last month from the Cabinet Office, a mere 76 years after the end of the War and 49 years after Pop "departed the fix". I look forward to wearing it on the right next Remembrance Day, (probably at least as well earned as the ones on the left!).
Apologies for thread drift, but the mention of WW2 medals struck a very important chord with me. And dust in the eyes again............
Could we get them back? And how?
Last edited by downsizer; 20th Feb 2021 at 12:02.
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A fireman in the East End earned it and more.
Forgive the pedantry, but you're asking for a duplicate set rather than getting them back - as well as offering some twonk the opportunity for an insensitive and inappropriate suggestion, it might imply to someone in officialdom that they might be in a position to be retrieved, which, of course, they're not. They are, in effect 'lost', even though you know exactly where they are (if that makes sense).
This interests me, my grandfather served in the RN during WWII on HMS Hood, HMS Broke and then in Burma but was buried with his medals prior to my birth.
Could we get them back? And how?
Could we get them back? And how?
When a chum of mine who was a very keen medal collector retired from the Parachute Regiment in the 70s he worked for a while for a local undertaker. While he was in that job they buried a local woman who was one of the very few female recipients of the Military Medal during the Great War. She too was buried with her medals, Bob saw them being placed in the coffin before it was screwed down. He confessed later that the tears in his eyes were less for the dear departed, than for the loss of a fine group of medals. I used to tease him that he ought to go along to the churchyard one night with a spade and "liberate" the medals - not that I am suggesting that you do the same!
MPN11
Just a bit of Truth Decay treatment required there. During the 19th Century and early 20th Century there were the following:
Military Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Volunteer Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Sea Transport Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Colonial Permanent Forces’ Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Naval Good Shooting Medal
Volunteer Decoration
Ability & Good Conduct (Engineers) Medal
Territorial Yeomanry & Militia Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal
The Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal
The Empress of India Medal
Visit to Ireland Medal
Edward VII Coronation Medal
George V Coronation Medal
George V Silver Jubilee Medal
So I’m afraid it looks like great-great-great father was “blinged up bad” like those of us today - and maybe not as “hard earned” as you make out?
PS. Wishing HRH DofE a speedy recovery and that HMTQ remains at the helm for a few more years to come. Thank you both for your continued service.
At least we have both our ancestors’ hard-earned medals from WW2, WW1 and indeed the 19th Century when they actually did something rather more than just draw their pay.
Military Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Volunteer Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Sea Transport Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Colonial Permanent Forces’ Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Naval Good Shooting Medal
Volunteer Decoration
Ability & Good Conduct (Engineers) Medal
Territorial Yeomanry & Militia Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal
The Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal
The Empress of India Medal
Visit to Ireland Medal
Edward VII Coronation Medal
George V Coronation Medal
George V Silver Jubilee Medal
So I’m afraid it looks like great-great-great father was “blinged up bad” like those of us today - and maybe not as “hard earned” as you make out?
PS. Wishing HRH DofE a speedy recovery and that HMTQ remains at the helm for a few more years to come. Thank you both for your continued service.
Ok, if I can't get a replacement set, how do I find out exactly what he had?
Mothers details are sketchy on his service other than Hood, Broke and Burma.
She has throughout my life expressed regret at the decision to bury with them and as she is nearing the end of her life I thought it might be nice to get a replacement set for her, and ultimately my children who can also have mine.
Mothers details are sketchy on his service other than Hood, Broke and Burma.
She has throughout my life expressed regret at the decision to bury with them and as she is nearing the end of her life I thought it might be nice to get a replacement set for her, and ultimately my children who can also have mine.
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However, I personally can't wait until the royal family is disbanded.
Waste of time, effort and money whilst providing nothing.
Good on Harry for doing something brave by severing ties and going it alone...
Ok, if I can't get a replacement set, how do I find out exactly what he had?
Mothers details are sketchy on his service other than Hood, Broke and Burma.
She has throughout my life expressed regret at the decision to bury with them and as she is nearing the end of her life I thought it might be nice to get a replacement set for her, and ultimately my children who can also have mine.
Mothers details are sketchy on his service other than Hood, Broke and Burma.
She has throughout my life expressed regret at the decision to bury with them and as she is nearing the end of her life I thought it might be nice to get a replacement set for her, and ultimately my children who can also have mine.
That will/should provide the necessary information - either stating directly which medals were awarded, or giving sufficient clues for them to be identified.
Thread Starter
heights good,
The current incumbent as our sovereign cannot be faulted and has been let down over the years by several of her kith and kin.
I venture to suggest that a monarchy such as we have is probably a better solution to the head of state question than any sort of elected/appointed arrangement. Perhaps you could offer your solution to the matter - it would prove an interesting 'Thread Drift' to my original question at Post 1.
Old Duffer
The current incumbent as our sovereign cannot be faulted and has been let down over the years by several of her kith and kin.
I venture to suggest that a monarchy such as we have is probably a better solution to the head of state question than any sort of elected/appointed arrangement. Perhaps you could offer your solution to the matter - it would prove an interesting 'Thread Drift' to my original question at Post 1.
Old Duffer
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We risk a closed Thread when we stray into Republicanism and alternative forms of misgovernment.
It would be really nice if we avoid such deviations.
It would be really nice if we avoid such deviations.
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Ok, if I can't get a replacement set, how do I find out exactly what he had?
Mothers details are sketchy on his service other than Hood, Broke and Burma.
She has throughout my life expressed regret at the decision to bury with them and as she is nearing the end of her life I thought it might be nice to get a replacement set for her, and ultimately my children who can also have mine.
Mothers details are sketchy on his service other than Hood, Broke and Burma.
She has throughout my life expressed regret at the decision to bury with them and as she is nearing the end of her life I thought it might be nice to get a replacement set for her, and ultimately my children who can also have mine.
Join Date: Mar 2010
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MPN11
... So I’m afraid it looks like great-great-great father was “blinged up bad” like those of us today - and maybe not as “hard earned” as you make out?
...
... So I’m afraid it looks like great-great-great father was “blinged up bad” like those of us today - and maybe not as “hard earned” as you make out?
...
Gentleman Aviator
A fireman in the East End earned it and more.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, he very rarely spoke of his experiences..........
Thread Starter
MPN11,
I submit that 'heights good' intervention, whilst drifting the Thread, is a very good example of the freedom of speech. 'No platforming' and other forms of the suppression of free expression of views is what the Woke generation want, so whilst the mods suck their teeth about this, they see it is an interesting topic worthy of honest discussion. Incidentally, a friend recently wrote to the DT newspaper recounting a civilised debate some 60 years ago when Oswald Moseley was given a fair and polite hearing at his university. The youth of today can't cope with that: GOD HELP US!!!!!!!!!!!
Old Duffer
I submit that 'heights good' intervention, whilst drifting the Thread, is a very good example of the freedom of speech. 'No platforming' and other forms of the suppression of free expression of views is what the Woke generation want, so whilst the mods suck their teeth about this, they see it is an interesting topic worthy of honest discussion. Incidentally, a friend recently wrote to the DT newspaper recounting a civilised debate some 60 years ago when Oswald Moseley was given a fair and polite hearing at his university. The youth of today can't cope with that: GOD HELP US!!!!!!!!!!!
Old Duffer
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Fair call, O-D. Freedom of Speech, Freedom from Facemasks ... so many new Freedoms I can't keep up!!
I'll crawl away now. I made my only sensible input up-thread.
I'll crawl away now. I made my only sensible input up-thread.
Apologies for ruffling your feathers. My post was (I had hoped) obviously focused on non-operational medals. The proposition for "medals for everyone" is indeed traditional, with Coronation and Jubilee medals dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria. I was just observing that my wife and I managed a joint 55 years RAF service without being eligible for any of them!
I am of course well aware of what has been happening in the last 4 decades, where numerous friends and acquaintances have been intimately involved in conflicts ... from Op Corporate onwards. To my regret I was never given the opportunity to be involved in-theatre, unlike my antecedents.
I am of course well aware of what has been happening in the last 4 decades, where numerous friends and acquaintances have been intimately involved in conflicts ... from Op Corporate onwards. To my regret I was never given the opportunity to be involved in-theatre, unlike my antecedents.
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Both saw the Horrors of war close up, one sadly paying the ultimate sacrifice. I couldn’t and wouldn’t even attempt to say who earned “it” in my eyes they were both heroes.
One will be remembered for the action he took part in where he fell and is buried, where as the other having died later will only be recognised by family and relations where he lies as to the sacrifices he made to keep us safe.
One will be remembered for the action he took part in where he fell and is buried, where as the other having died later will only be recognised by family and relations where he lies as to the sacrifices he made to keep us safe.