Great grand fathers medals 🎖

[norma 308]

I Got left these 1st world war medals when I was about 13 my younger brother gave them to his girlfriend temporarily as a gift when he was about 12 luckily her parents returned them , anyways Never met Grt granddad as he passed when I was very young but I got the medals some authentic ribbon with a view to having them mounted . I remember my old Grt nan but was too young to ask the sort of things I’d like to have asked now . Very proud to have them shame I never got to meet him

 

[Foxyboy43]

You should cherish them my friend as a tribute to a man from your family who believed in liberty and served the King and country by going off to war. If you have his military details you can even find out where he was during the war to end all wars - a quintessential part of your family’s history.
There is another thread about framing medals - check it out and pass them down through the family.

 

[bfltd0]

You could research your great-grandfather's war record and just make sure that those three medals are all the ones he was awarded.

It would be great to get them mounted (court or swing) and either get them framed with some details of your great-grandfather's service. And it would be appropriate to wear the medals, as you are next of kin a generation or two removed, at things like Remembrance services (on the right chest).

You have a family heirloom - keep them safe and pass them down when it is time to someone who will equally cherish the medals and remember the individual's service.

 

[EMcC]

Once you have confirmed their history get them mounted and wear them on your right chest on remembrance day.
It would be worth checking their history as someone is bound to ask you what and when and to whom awarded.
Wear them with pride.

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Obviously you can see on the outer rim of the medals your Great Granddads name army serial number and the battalion he served with if you need any details of his service in the army contact the battalion head quarters, and if that battalion in recent years has been absorbed into another your Great Granddads records should still be available.

 

[enfieldspares]

Pip, Squeak and Wilfred they are known as the three. The one on the right in the picture should be worn on the left. It is either the 1914 Star or the 1914-15 Star. It'll be clear from it which it is. This suggests that Great Grandad was either a career soldier or a member of the Territorial Army who then went out to fight in those first two years

Those either regulars or the volunteers of Kitchener's Army that went out in 1916 would have only two medals unless they were Territorial Army who although "in uniform" by 1914 didn't actually enter a theatre of war until 1916 (or later) in which case they'll have the fairly rare as only 33,000 were issued Territorial War Medal instead.

 

[bfltd0]

Here's a useful summary of the three medals:

1914-15 Star : this bronze medal with a red, white and blue watered silk ribbon was awarded to those who served in any theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 31st December 1915 (other than those who had already qualified for the 1914 Star.) It is a crowned four-pointed star with crossed swords and a wreath of oak leaves with the royal cipher at the base and a scroll across the centre inscribed 1914-15. Total number of medals awarded = 2,350,000.

British War Medal : this silver medal with a orange centred ribbon with black, white and royal blue edges was introduced to record the successful conclusion of the War and awarded to anyone who saw service at any time between 1914 and 1918 (later extended to to cover service from 1919-20 in Russia). The obverse shows the uncrowned left- facing profile of King George V and on the reverse St George on horseback trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the Central Powers and a skull and crossbones as an emblem of death. Above the sun has risen in victory. Total number of medals awarded = 6,500,000 in silver + 110,000 in bronze to Chinese, Indian and Maltese labour battalions.

Victory Medal : This yellow bronze medal with a double rainbow ribbon was awarded to all who had received the Star medals and most of those who had received the British War Medal. The standing figure of Victory holding a palm branch in her right hand appears on the obverse and on the reverse a laurel wreath contains the inscription THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1919. The extended date reflects the continued fighting in India and Russia and the Peace Treaty at Versailles in June 1919. Total number of medals awarded = approx 6,000,000

 

[Namman]

Pip, Squeak and Wilfred they are known as the three. The one on the right in the picture should be worn on the left. It is either the 1914 Star or the 1914-15 Star. It'll be clear from it which it is. This suggests that Great Grandad was either a career soldier or a member of the Territorial Army who then went out to fight in those first two years

Those either regulars or the volunteers of Kitchener's Army that went out in 1916 would have only two medals unless they were Territorial Army who although "in uniform" by 1914 didn't actually enter a theatre of war until 1916 (or later) in which case they'll have the fairly rare as only 33,000 were issued Territorial War Medal instead.

Actually some Territorials served in the front line in 1915. For example, all three battalions of the Monmouthshire regiment (TA) were involved in the Second Battle of Ypres, May 1915. The First and Third Battalions suffered very heavy casualties.
i believe it was the first time all three battalions of a TA Regt were on active service at the same time.

 

[bfltd0]

Those either regulars or the volunteers of Kitchener's Army that went out in 1916 would have only two medals unless they were Territorial Army who although "in uniform" by 1914 didn't actually enter a theatre of war until 1916 (or later) in which case they'll have the fairly rare as only 33,000 were issued Territorial War Medal instead.

The two medal group of the Victory Medal and War Medal were known as "Mutt and Jeff".

As you could only be awarded a Territorial War Medal if you didn't qualify for a 14 or 14/15 Star, these were indeed a comparatively rare medal.

 

[del.gue]

Actually some Territorials served in the front line in 1915. For example, all three battalions of the Monmouthshire regiment (TA) were involved in the Second Battle of Ypres, May 1915. The First and Third Battalions suffered very heavy casualties.
i believe it was the first time all three battalions of a TA Regt were on active service at the same time.

That is a battle i have looked at researched in the last year. My grandfather and great uncle were 2nd Chehires.
My great uncle is was kia and never found. Cheshires and Monmouths suffered very heavy casualties.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Aye. I have walked those battlefields many times and hope to do so again soon. I have the utmost respect for the lads that endured the mud and slaughter that was Ypers - a totally unnecessary salient which could have so easily been evacuated and lost to no great cost other than the General Staff's pride. To visit the many cemeteries from the smallest to the huge Tyne Cot and the preserved trenches is both humbling and shocking in extremis. Respect.

 

[bfltd0]

That is a battle i have looked at researched in the last year. My grandfather and great uncle were 2nd Chehires.
My great uncle is was kia and never found. Cheshires and Monmouths suffered very heavy casualties.

Name on the Menin Gate then? That's a superb memorial. So emotional when they play the daily Last Post there.

 

[Automan]

Aye. I have walked those battlefields many times and hope to do so again soon. I have the utmost respect for the lads that endured the mud and slaughter that was Ypers - a totally unnecessary salient which could have so easily been evacuated and lost to no great cost other than the General Staff's pride. To visit the many cemeteries from the smallest to the huge Tyne Cot and the preserved trenches is both humbling and shocking in extremis. Respect.

Like you I have trod a lot of the preserved trenches and visited the cemeteries but on one of the visits we were all humbled by the conditions that these soldiers fought in, when we got back on the coach a woman in high heels complained bitterly that she wasn't going there again as her shoes were covered in mud.
I absolutely could not believe my ears.

 

[del.gue]

Name on the Menin Gate then? That's a superb memorial. So emotional when they play the daily Last Post there.

His name is on Menin gate and two memorials in Birkenhead. Pvt Thomas Christopher.
It was the one thing that my grandad was bothered about his whole life... he never knew what had happened to Tom.

 

[User00035]

Here's a useful summary of the three medals:

1914-15 Star : this bronze medal with a red, white and blue watered silk ribbon was awarded to those who served in any theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 31st December 1915 (other than those who had already qualified for the 1914 Star.) It is a crowned four-pointed star with crossed swords and a wreath of oak leaves with the royal cipher at the base and a scroll across the centre inscribed 1914-15. Total number of medals awarded = 2,350,000.

British War Medal : this silver medal with a orange centred ribbon with black, white and royal blue edges was introduced to record the successful conclusion of the War and awarded to anyone who saw service at any time between 1914 and 1918 (later extended to to cover service from 1919-20 in Russia). The obverse shows the uncrowned left- facing profile of King George V and on the reverse St George on horseback trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the Central Powers and a skull and crossbones as an emblem of death. Above the sun has risen in victory. Total number of medals awarded = 6,500,000 in silver + 110,000 in bronze to Chinese, Indian and Maltese labour battalions.

Victory Medal : This yellow bronze medal with a double rainbow ribbon was awarded to all who had received the Star medals and most of those who had received the British War Medal. The standing figure of Victory holding a palm branch in her right hand appears on the obverse and on the reverse a laurel wreath contains the inscription THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1919. The extended date reflects the continued fighting in India and Russia and the Peace Treaty at Versailles in June 1919. Total number of medals awarded = approx 6,000,000

View attachment 199537

We have a Victory Medal and a British War medal, both awarded to a Great Aunt. Don't have the star medal to go with them but they are both inscribed on the rim with her name.
I had thought the Victory medal was award to all civilians who had served overseas in a theatre of war. In what capacity my Great Aunt served I have no idea and like people of that generation, she never talked about it, but her medals are inscribed "PTE Rickwood".
Though the British War and Victory medals are extremely common, just holding them is a remarkable connection between someone I remember vividly from childhood and something that happened so long ago. They are powerfully poignant things.

 

[bfltd0]

We have a Victory Medal and a British War medal, both awarded to a Great Aunt. Don't have the star medal to go with them but they are both inscribed on the rim with her name, given as PTE Rickwood.
I had thought the Victory medal was award to all civilians who had served overseas in a theatre of war. In what capacity my Great Aunt had served I have no idea and like people of that generation, she never talked about it.
Though the British War and Victory medals are extremely common, just holding them is a remarkable connection between someone I remember vividly from childhood and something that happened so long ago. They are powerfully poignant things.

To qualify for the Victory medal, you had to be either in the armed forces or with certain recognised voluntary organisations, and been in any theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 (home service did not count). So she was probably in one of the the nursing or auxiliary forces and served in a theatre of war. The medals should have her details engraved on the back or rim, so you might be able to do some research from there.

 

[Namman]

Aye. I have walked those battlefields many times and hope to do so again soon. I have the utmost respect for the lads that endured the mud and slaughter that was Ypers - a totally unnecessary salient which could have so easily been evacuated and lost to no great cost other than the General Staff's pride. To visit the many cemeteries from the smallest to the huge Tyne Cot and the preserved trenches is both humbling and shocking in extremis. Respect.

I too have been to Ypres many times and walked the sites of all three major battles. The first use of chlorine gas was at Ypres April 1915 against French colonial troops. Unbelievably the Canadians stubbornly refused to retreat.
We must beg to differ on your views on the British High Command!

 

[Namman]

That is a battle i have looked at researched in the last year. My grandfather and great uncle were 2nd Chehires.
My great uncle is was kia and never found. Cheshires and Monmouths suffered very heavy casualties.

Yes, they were fighting alongside the 1st Monmouths.

 

[User00035]

To qualify for the Victory medal, you had to be either in the armed forces or with certain recognised voluntary organisations, and been in any theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 (home service did not count). So she was probably in one of the the nursing or auxiliary forces and served in a theatre of war. The medals should have her details engraved on the back or rim, so you might be able to do some research from there.

Thanks for that. She was indeed a nurse. In fact I remember her as the matriarch who ran my maternal grand-parents rambling Georgian rectory household which included numerous waif and stray old ladies from the village who in their final years had nowhere else to go. I remember many such households, full of what seemed to a young child, slightly scary old spinsters who lived in single rooms and were all called "auntie" something.
Most of these old ladies and their decrepit communal households died out at least forty years ago and few people under 50 now would even know they existed, outside of period TV dramas. It didn't occur to me until years later because they were such a common feature of my childhood, that these legions of dispossessed old women eking out their last days crocheting in single rooms were the last casualties, the relicts of the 1st world war. They ended their lives supported by the charity of neighbours because they never had homes of their own, no property, scant saving, no pensions, no security. Most had worked in domestic service, nursing or teaching. They'd never married or raised families and died with no one to support them not because they chose that life, but because when they were young and had their only chance, all the men of their own age they had grown up with who they might have married were dead.

Current generations and their self-indulgent preoccupations with independence, empowerment, gender equality and "rights" don't know how lucky (or how feeble) they are.

 

[Namman]

Thanks for that. She was indeed a nurse. In fact I remember her as the matriarch who ran my maternal grand-parents rambling Georgian rectory household which included numerous waif and stray old ladies from the village who in their final years had nowhere else to go. I remember many such households, full of what seemed to a young child, slightly scary old spinsters who lived in single rooms and were all called "auntie" something.
Most of these old ladies and their decrepit communal households died out at least forty years ago and few people under 50 now would even know they existed, outside of period TV dramas. It didn't occur to me until years later because they were such a common feature of my childhood, that these legions of dispossessed old women eking out their last days crocheting in single rooms were the last casualties, the relicts of the 1st world war. They ended their lives supported by the charity of neighbours because they never had homes of their own, no property, scant saving, no pensions, no security. Most had worked in domestic service, nursing or teaching. They'd never married or raised families and died with no one to support them not because they chose that life, but because when they were young and had their only chance, all the men of their own age they had grown up with who they might have married were dead.

Current generations and their self-indulgent preoccupations with independence, empowerment, gender equality and "rights" don't know how lucky (or how feeble) they are.

Excellent post. Casualties of war are not confined to the actual battlefield, a poignant reminder.