> > For USA Medals: > > > > http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/ > > > > You may request replacement medals and military records through this > > site. > > > > SHARON Zingery <szingery@sbcglobal.net> > > Thanks Sharon. This is for UK medals, though, and the rules are very > different here. > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> I'm surprised that some fellow who served in a British Army Unit in Korea hasn't jumped in here to say something about the Korea Medal and the UN medal for Korea. I served in Korea with a Canadian Infantry Battalion, which was part of the 1st Commonwealth Division, of which the KSLI was a part. My medals, the Korea Medal and the UN Medal were issued with my Number Rank Name Unit inscribed on the rims of those medals. Anyone who was "Mentioned in Dispatches", the bottom award for bravery, at the time, would have a palm leaf as an attachment to the riband of the Korea Medal. I am NOT going to try and describe the replacement procedures for these medals for Canada as any other countries replacement procedures are totally irrelevant. As for the tracing of the medals in the UK, his unit of the time, would have published in their daily orders the award of the medal or medals to which he would have been entitled. He would then and only then, be entitled wear the riband of the awarded medal. The physical medal would arrive in his hands from some central source, his to shine and polish on a continuing basis, in order that his Army tormentors would stay off his back. Terrence Flanagan Halifax, Nova Scotia "Terry Flanagan" <dotterry@accesswave.ca>
> Thanks Bob. I'd been led to believe (previous to this thread) that > one or two may have had his name+number on the back, and that there > was some adornment related to him being mentioned in dispatches. > > Looks like I've been chasing ghosts here. > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> I can't speak to the mentioned in dispatches, although it seems to me I recall reading that there's a ribbon or other uniform device that signifies such. I'd expect that a mention would have to be for some special accomplishment or act of bravery in a combat situation but I have no idea of what the requirements might be. Whatever led to the mention may well be fertile ground for a search and may end up providing something meaningful. Sorry to rain on the parade, Bob Melson -- Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas ----- Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason so few engage in it. -- Henry Ford Bob Melson <amia9018@mypacks.net>
"Bob Melson" <amia9018@mypacks.net> wrote in message news:ghjcm8$hjk$1@askin-17.linkpendium.com... > > On Thursday 04 December 2008 14:47, Tony Proctor > (tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com) opined: > >>> > He received the following medals:- >>> > >>> > War Medal (1939-1945) > http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/united-kingdom054.htm > Awarded: To all persons serving full-time in the Armed Forces for 28 days > between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. > >>> > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp > http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/united-kingdom154.htm > This medal was awarded "For service in minor campaigns that did not > warrant > issue of a separate medal." Clasps were added to denote the action, so > there was one for "PALESTINE 1945-48 - for service during the troubles in > 1945-48." > >>> > Korea Medal (1952) > http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/united-kingdom055.htm > Awarded: For one day's service in Korea, or 28 days at sea in the region, > between 2 July 1950 and 10 June 1953. All recipients also received the UN > Korea Medal. > >>> > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) > http://www.medals.org.uk/united-nations/united-nations001.htm > Awarded: For service in Korea, 1950-54 > > Unlike later UN medals, different versions of the UN Korea Medal were > awarded to personnel from different nations, although all shared the same > ribbon. > > > Tony: > > Thought you might find te above interesting and useful. The > information is taken directly from the web pages cited. > > Bob Melson <amia9018@mypacks.net> Thanks Bob. I'd been led to believe (previous to this thread) that one or two may have had his name+number on the back, and that there was some adornment related to him being mentioned in dispatches. Looks like I've been chasing ghosts here. Tony Proctor "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com>
On Thursday 04 December 2008 14:47, Tony Proctor (tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com) opined: >> > He received the following medals:- >> > >> > War Medal (1939-1945) http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/united-kingdom054.htm Awarded: To all persons serving full-time in the Armed Forces for 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. >> > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/united-kingdom154.htm This medal was awarded "For service in minor campaigns that did not warrant issue of a separate medal." Clasps were added to denote the action, so there was one for "PALESTINE 1945-48 - for service during the troubles in 1945-48." >> > Korea Medal (1952) http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/united-kingdom055.htm Awarded: For one day's service in Korea, or 28 days at sea in the region, between 2 July 1950 and 10 June 1953. All recipients also received the UN Korea Medal. >> > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) http://www.medals.org.uk/united-nations/united-nations001.htm Awarded: For service in Korea, 1950-54 Unlike later UN medals, different versions of the UN Korea Medal were awarded to personnel from different nations, although all shared the same ribbon. Tony: Thought you might find te above interesting and useful. The information is taken directly from the web pages cited. Best wishes, (ob)Sessive Ol' Bob Bob Melson -- Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas ----- Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason so few engage in it. -- Henry Ford Bob Melson <amia9018@mypacks.net>
> He was buried in Sennelager, Germany, Lisa, and his medals were > listed in his belongings that were passed to his widow. > Unfortunately, she died in the 1960's so the trail has gone pretty > cold. I had hoped that some remaining members of her own family > kept them but I haven't been able to trace them. I thought I'd > traced a step-son of her brother's and wrote to him but got no > response - which can be interpreted many ways > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> We've been discussing how to find replacements, and not so much how to find out the whereabouts of the actual medals. If you haven't done it yet, I would try to find the will of his widow. It's possible they were left to a specific person, or not mentioned at all. Either way, it would give you an idea of what may have happened to them, I suppose you could write to step-son again. Maybe this time don't ask about the medals, but rather ask about others in his family who might be interested in the family history? Lisa "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net>
> > > > > He received the following medals:- > > > > > > > > > > War Medal (1939-1945) > > > > > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp > > > > > Korea Medal (1952) > > > > > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) > > OK, thanks Bob. That's actually helpful. I was assuming that the > ones 'with clasp' might have had his service number on the back. > I've been told he was very proud of his "oak leaf". > > Tony Proctor (tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com) In this case, I'd suspect the clasp/oak leaf signified a second award of the GSM/Palestine. That, in turn, suggests he had at least two periods of service in that particular garden spot between '45 and '48. The same would be true of the UNSM. A comparable practice in the US military during the Vietnam unpleasantness was to award the Bronze Star for service for each 6 months an individual served in-country. The distinction here is between service and valor; for the most part, all a kid had to do to receive a Bronze Star was to stay out of trouble for 6 months. I'll butt out now, having strewn fear, uncertainty and doubt far and wide. Slippery Ol' Bob -- Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas ----- Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason so few engage in it. -- Henry Ford Bob Melson <amia9018@mypacks.net>
> > > > He received the following medals:- > > > > > > > > War Medal (1939-1945) > > > > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp > > > > Korea Medal (1952) > > > > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) > > > > Medals cannot be replaced in the UK Lisa, unless you can prove they > > were stolen or destroyed - I've tried. > > > > The original reason for my posting was that I wanted to find any > > dealers or collectors that might have these in their possession now, > > and try and persuade them to part with them. I was hoping that > > there were recommended sites or publications where I could advertise > > these "wanted" details. > > > > The thread seems to have touched on lots of other medal aspects but > > not this one. > > > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> > > The medals you mention above, though, are of the "I was there" type, > meaning there's absolutely no distinction to them - they were given > to anybody who served in War 2, Palestine during the period shown or > in Korea - all you had to do was BE there. That being the case, > there should be tons of them in pawn shops, used clothing stores, > similar places. Even granting your practices there are different > from ours on this side of the pond, I find it hard to believe that > medals that were given out by the handsfull for no other reason than > that the recipient was in a place at a time can only be replaced on > proof of their loss or destruction. If it were the VC or some other > award for heroism or military merit ... But "I wuz there"? You may > have to establish that the individual WAS there, but I suspect there > are warehouse shelves sagging under the weight of unissued medals of > the types you name that the MoD would just love to be rid of. > > "Bob Melson" <amia9018@mypacks.net> I find it hard to believe that the UK won't replace medals either, but I agree, they shouldn't be that hard to find some replacements for the "I was there" medals. However, when I was searching through some of the "for sale" sites, it seems that some of these medals do have a person's name inscribed on them. For instance, the General Service Medals I found at one site each had a serviceman's name attached to it. It's probably not appropriate to post these sites that sell items for profit, but if Tony will go to google.com and run a search for military medal collectors england there are several medal seller sites. I can't vouch for any of them of course, so buyer beware.... There were also many books listed which could be found in a library that might give more information. Lisa "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net>
> For USA Medals: > > http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/ > > You may request replacement medals and military records through this > site. > > SHARON Zingery <szingery@sbcglobal.net> Thanks Sharon. This is for UK medals, though, and the rules are very different here. Tony Proctor
> > The man was my late uncle, Dennis W. Proctor 1926-1954 (service > > number 14445551), who was in the Sherwood Foresters, the Ox. & > > Bucks. LI, and the KSLI. > > > > He received the following medals:- > > > > War Medal (1939-1945) > > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp > > Korea Medal (1952) > > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) > > > > He was also mentioned in dispatches. Unfortunately, there are no > > descendants and no surviving immediate family. His widow received > > his belongings but she died young and I've no idea what happened to > > these medals. I tried to trace any relatives of hers but she'd > > re-married, and then after her own death her 2nd husband remarried > > twice more. Despite my best efforts, I've been unable to trace any > > blood relative of hers > > > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> > > A couple more thoughts - > > Could your uncle have been buried in uniform with his medals? > Maybe you can locate the funeral home to see if there are records. > > If the medals were not important to his descendants, they could > have been thrown away, given away, or sold. > > Maybe you should look for his estate settlement papers, and see > if you can find a will. It's possible the medals were mentioned > there - especially if your uncle wanted to donate them somewhere. > > Or, the medals could have been sold as part of his estate, or the > estate of his wife. If there were a lot of items the family was not > interested in keeping, they may have decided to sell these things, > and distribute the money from the sale to the heirs. > > When I searched on google earlier, I saw some of these types of > medals for sale at ebay and other auction sites. > > "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net> He was buried in Sennelager, Germany, Lisa, and his medals were listed in his belongings that were passed to his widow. Unfortunately, she died in the 1960's so the trail has gone pretty cold. I had hoped that some remaining members of her own family kept them but I haven't been able to trace them. I thought I'd traced a step-son of her brother's and wrote to him but got no response - which can be interpreted many ways Tony Proctor "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com>
> > > > He received the following medals:- > > > > > > > > War Medal (1939-1945) > > > > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp > > > > Korea Medal (1952) > > > > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) > > > > Medals cannot be replaced in the UK Lisa, unless you can prove they > > were stolen or destroyed - I've tried. > > > > The original reason for my posting was that I wanted to find any > > dealers or collectors that might have these in their possession now, > > and try and persuade them to part with them. I was hoping that > > there were recommended sites or publications where I could advertise > > these "wanted" details. > > > > The thread seems to have touched on lots of other medal aspects but > > not this one. > > > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> > > The medals you mention above, though, are of the "I was there" type, > meaning there's absolutely no distinction to them - they were given > to anybody who served in War 2, Palestine during the period shown or > in Korea - all you had to do was BE there. That being the case, > there should be tons of them in pawn shops, used clothing stores, > similar places. Even granting your practices there are different > from ours on this side of the pond, I find it hard to believe that > medals that were given out by the handsfull for no other reason than > that the recipient was in a place at a time can only be replaced on > proof of their loss or destruction. If it were the VC or some other > award for heroism or military merit ... But "I wuz there"? You may > have to establish that the individual WAS there, but I suspect there > are warehouse shelves sagging under the weight of unissued medals of > the types you name that the MoD would just love to be rid of. > > Bob Melson <amia9018@mypacks.net> OK, thanks Bob. That's actually helpful. I was assuming that the ones 'with clasp' might have had his service number on the back. I've been told he was very proud of his "oak leaf". Tony Proctor
> Medals cannot be replaced in the UK Lisa, unless you can prove they > were stolen or destroyed - I've tried. > > The original reason for my posting was that I wanted to find any > dealers or collectors that might have these in their possession now, > and try and persuade them to part with them. I was hoping that > there were recommended sites or publications where I could advertise > these "wanted" details. > > The thread seems to have touched on lots of other medal aspects but > not this one. > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> I'm sorry to learn this. As you can see by my previous message, and the message from Bob Melson, in the US, military medals can be replaced. I would take a look at the various military sites to identify the medals exactly, then go start looking for them at auction sites like ebay, and at every antique store or fair you happen to see. Right now on ebay there is this one for sale at ebay BRITISH GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL PALESTINE 1945-1948 You will have to hunt around like this until you find them all. Also, stop in to a local antique shop and see if they have weekly or monthly publications where you could place a advertisement, or ask the proprietor for advice. Lisa "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net>
> > > He received the following medals:- > > > > > > War Medal (1939-1945) > > > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp > > > Korea Medal (1952) > > > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) > > Medals cannot be replaced in the UK Lisa, unless you can prove they > were stolen or destroyed - I've tried. > > The original reason for my posting was that I wanted to find any > dealers or collectors that might have these in their possession now, > and try and persuade them to part with them. I was hoping that > there were recommended sites or publications where I could advertise > these "wanted" details. > > The thread seems to have touched on lots of other medal aspects but > not this one. > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> The medals you mention above, though, are of the "I was there" type, meaning there's absolutely no distinction to them - they were given to anybody who served in War 2, Palestine during the period shown or in Korea - all you had to do was BE there. That being the case, there should be tons of them in pawn shops, used clothing stores, similar places. Even granting your practices there are different from ours on this side of the pond, I find it hard to believe that medals that were given out by the handsfull for no other reason than that the recipient was in a place at a time can only be replaced on proof of their loss or destruction. If it were the VC or some other award for heroism or military merit ... But "I wuz there"? You may have to establish that the individual WAS there, but I suspect there are warehouse shelves sagging under the weight of unissued medals of the types you name that the MoD would just love to be rid of. Bob Melson -- Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas ----- Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason so few engage in it. -- Henry Ford Bob Melson <amia9018@mypacks.net>
For USA Medals: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/ You may request replacement medals and military records through this site. Sharon SHARON Zingery <szingery@sbcglobal.net>
> The man was my late uncle, Dennis W. Proctor 1926-1954 (service > number 14445551), who was in the Sherwood Foresters, the Ox. & > Bucks. LI, and the KSLI. > > He received the following medals:- > > War Medal (1939-1945) > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp > Korea Medal (1952) > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) > > He was also mentioned in dispatches. Unfortunately, there are no > descendants and no surviving immediate family. His widow received > his belongings but she died young and I've no idea what happened to > these medals. I tried to trace any relatives of hers but she'd > re-married, and then after her own death her 2nd husband remarried > twice more. Despite my best efforts, I've been unable to trace any > blood relative of hers > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> A couple more thoughts - Could your uncle have been buried in uniform with his medals? Maybe you can locate the funeral home to see if there are records. If the medals were not important to his descendants, they could have been thrown away, given away, or sold. Maybe you should look for his estate settlement papers, and see if you can find a will. It's possible the medals were mentioned there - especially if your uncle wanted to donate them somewhere. Or, the medals could have been sold as part of his estate, or the estate of his wife. If there were a lot of items the family was not interested in keeping, they may have decided to sell these things, and distribute the money from the sale to the heirs. When I searched on google earlier, I saw some of these types of medals for sale at ebay and other auction sites. Lisa "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net>
Our research note for December concerns maps for family research. With the family historian's desire to match events with names, dates and locations, the evaluation of appropriate maps is an important skill. This note outlines some factors to consider. It can be found at http://www.parkbooks.com/Html/res_maps.html Other notes are available at http://www.parkbooks.com/Html/research.html Happy hunting! Mary Bakeman Park Genealogical Books Mary Bakeman <mbakeman@parkbooks.com>
> The person whose background I am researching is interred at a local > cemetery and I would like to see the family contact information they > have on file. I am not related to the deceased. Do I just go to the > cemetery and tell them I am doing some research for someone? Is > there a trick to this? Thanks. > > sbernelli@hotmail.com IME it depends on the freshness of the death (more recent more reluctant), on the daily flow of work (busy week no help), on cemetery policy (it's been our policy for 97 years...), on whether the boss is in the room, and on the state of the indigestion of the party to whom you are speaking. Are you /certain/ you're not related in any way? ;) Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>
> Sorry Ian but how would the NA help here. I know what medals he had, > and I have his complete service record > > What I don't know is the whereabouts of those medals. His blood > family (parents, siblings, etc) never saw them. For other reasons, > there was no subsequent contact with his widow > > Tony Proctor So what you're looking for is the actual medal? Then, what about antique show type newsgroups, e-bay and such-like? I assume England as some sort of war-veterans social organizations like the VFW or the American Legion in the US -- contact them and/ or their magazine asking for people who knew your uncle to contact you. Amazing what one's buddies know that one's parents and sibs don't. Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>
> > The person whose background I am researching is interred at a local > > cemetery and I would like to see the family contact information they > > have on file. I am not related to the deceased. Do I just go to the > > cemetery and tell them I am doing some research for someone? Is > > there a trick to this? Thanks. > > > > sberne...@hotmail.com > > So sorry! > > The cemetery is in the Midwest area of the United States. The death > was about 4 years ago. Last year I went to the cemetery office and > asked for the grave location and they told me. I chickened out in > asking them about next of kin information, etc. Now I want to try > it. I don't think they will remember me. Do I just go back to the > office and ask? I'm not a relative. What in the world would I ask > them? Same for the funeral home? Thank you. > > sbernelli@hotmail.com Many of my ancestors are buried in the mid west, specifically northern eastern Indiana, and north western Ohio. (You may try the following not in any order) Local newspapers usually tied to local genealogy websites and libraries. (Some of the rural counties south of Fort Wayne many obituaries on line.) Contact the county offices. Local genealogy societies. Some parts of northeastern Ohio have a lot of information on http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=0 Keith nuttle <keith_nuttle@sbcglobal.net>
> > > > Are there are good recommendations for tracing medals awarded to a > > > > specific person? > > > > > > > > I did post a description at medaltracker.com but I've no idea how > > > > effectively that might be. Are there other sites or publications > > > > that I should consider? > > > > > > > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> > > > > > > Maybe you could post a description of it here, along with any > > > information about the person it belonged to [if you know]. > > > > > > If someone can narrow it down to military, or social, or educational > > > or ? then maybe there will be more options for groups to contact > > > for further information. > > > > > > "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net> > > > > The man was my late uncle, Dennis W. Proctor 1926-1954 (service > > number 14445551), who was in the Sherwood Foresters, the Ox. & > > Bucks. LI, and the KSLI. > > > > He received the following medals:- > > > > War Medal (1939-1945) > > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp > > Korea Medal (1952) > > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) > > > > He was also mentioned in dispatches. Unfortunately, there are no > > descendants and no surviving immediate family. His widow received > > his belongings but she died young and I've no idea what happened to > > these medals. I tried to trace any relatives of hers but she'd > > re-married, and then after her own death her 2nd husband remarried > > twice more. Despite my best efforts, I've been unable to trace any > > blood relative of hers > > > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> > > I am not familiar with the British Military records, but hopefully > someone else here can help you. If you are trying to replace these > medals, there is probably a procedure to follow. In the US, a > service person or his next of kin can request to have medals > replaced. They would need to contact the appropriate branch of the > military. > > After searching around with google.com, I found some information on > the units your uncle belonged to. I'm sure there are a lot more > pages out there - > > Sherwood Foresters http://www.sherwoodforesters.org/ > Ox. & Bucks LI http://www.lightinfantry.org.uk/regiments/obli/ox_index.htm > KSLI > http://www2.army.mod.uk/lightinfantry/history_traditions/county_regiments/ksli.htm > > Maybe someone at one of these sites can offer more help. > > "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net> Medals cannot be replaced in the UK Lisa, unless you can prove they were stolen or destroyed - I've tried. The original reason for my posting was that I wanted to find any dealers or collectors that might have these in their possession now, and try and persuade them to part with them. I was hoping that there were recommended sites or publications where I could advertise these "wanted" details. The thread seems to have touched on lots of other medal aspects but not this one. Tony Proctor "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com>
>> > > > Are there are good recommendations for tracing medals awarded to a >> > > > specific person? >> > > > >> > > > I did post a description at medaltracker.com but I've no idea how >> > > > effectively that might be. Are there other sites or publications >> > > > that I should consider? >> > > > >> > > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> >> > > >> > > Maybe you could post a description of it here, along with any >> > > information about the person it belonged to [if you know]. >> > > >> > > If someone can narrow it down to military, or social, or educational >> > > or ? then maybe there will be more options for groups to contact >> > > for further information. >> > > >> > > "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net> >> > >> > The man was my late uncle, Dennis W. Proctor 1926-1954 (service >> > number 14445551), who was in the Sherwood Foresters, the Ox. & >> > Bucks. LI, and the KSLI. >> > >> > He received the following medals:- >> > >> > War Medal (1939-1945) >> > General Service Medal Palestine (1945-1948), with clasp >> > Korea Medal (1952) >> > UN Service Medal, with clasp (Korea) >> > >> > He was also mentioned in dispatches. Unfortunately, there are no >> > descendants and no surviving immediate family. His widow received >> > his belongings but she died young and I've no idea what happened to >> > these medals. I tried to trace any relatives of hers but she'd >> > re-married, and then after her own death her 2nd husband remarried >> > twice more. Despite my best efforts, I've been unable to trace any >> > blood relative of hers >> > >> > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> >> >> http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/default.htm >> >> might be a good place to start. >> >> Ian >> Hotmail is for spammers. Real mail address is igoddard >> at nildram co uk >> Ian Goddard <goddai01@hotmail.co.uk> > > > Sorry Ian but how would the NA help here. I know what medals he had, > and I have his complete service record > > What I don't know is the whereabouts of those medals. His blood > family (parents, siblings, etc) never saw them. For other reasons, > there was no subsequent contact with his widow > > Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you meant > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> >From what you say, it sounds entirely likely that the medals - the colored ribbons or medallions plus ribbons - have disappeared. Those are the tangible symbol of the award and can be replaced in any number of ways, both officially and unofficially. Keep in mind that most, if not all medals have no inscription, no serial number, no way to show that that specific physical item was awarded to Joe Blow. As a result, if you know what medals the person was awarded, it's possible to replace them fairly easily - pawn shops, uniform shops, collectors and the like would be a good place to start. The award citation or mention, though, would likely have to come from the appropriate branch of the military. Here in the US - and I know things'll be different in the UK - one might start with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel of the Army, Air Force or Marines of the equivalent for the Navy, indicating your interest and asking the procedure to obtain the citation. In most cases an award citation is unclassified and is a public record, so the service or the personnel records archives - here run by the National Archives - will be able to point you in the right direction. Yet another avenue of approach, given the regimental tradition in the British military, would be to contact the individual regiments with a request for information. I'd be surprised if a properly worded request were rejected. HTH, Soldierly Ol' Bob Bob Melson -- Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas ----- Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason so few engage in it. -- Henry Ford Bob Melson <amia9018@mypacks.net>