>> > > > 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>