Quick query - were members of the Home Guard eligible for military gallantry awards such as the MM? Cheers, Pat Edit: realise I could Google this, but would rather have expert information! Also just dotting in and out of online world at the mo. Thanks for the forbearance, folks.
WO 373 Recommendations for Military Honours and Awards 1935 - 1990 in the National Archives apparently contains some entries for Home Guard members which suggests that the answer to your question is yes.
Thanks for the helpful and prompt response, Robert-w. I know HG were awarded e.g. BEM (military), which I think is represented in there somewhere. We shall see. Cheeers, Pat
Recommendations for military honours and awards (1935–1990) Search our catalogue for recommendations for awards (£) such as the Victoria Cross and the Military Medal. This collection (WO 373) includes awards to some Home Guard personnel. Home Guard personnel - The National Archives
Staffs Home Guard Memories X List below of medals awarded to the Home Guard Home Guard Medals Home Guard FAQ
Robert funny enough I am aware of that.Try reading the rest of the post it shows all medals awarded including the Military Medal.
Thank you all for the comprehensive responses, I'm very much obliged to you. My father's uncle won the MM in the First War, but a persistent family tradition claims he was MM and Bar- but I have never found any mention of it in the LG, etc. He served in the Home Guard in the Second War and I was wondering if this was an avenue worth pursuing, hence my query. Cheers, Pat.
In WW1 MMs were not reported in the Gazette so that if he won the bar in that war it won't show up there. Worth checking his WW1 medal card but if there are archived back numbers of the local paper they would be very likely to have reported it so worth looking in both wars
A snapshot from 17th July 1917 Page 7275 to 7291 there are several hundred MM's Page 7275 | Supplement 30188, 17 July 1917 | London Gazette | The Gazette Page 7274 Bars to the MM Page 7274 | Supplement 30188, 17 July 1917 | London Gazette | The Gazette
Perhaps I should have put an example covering Bars and Second Bars to the MM. Tim Edit: Snailer beat me to it.
The Military Medal was established in 1916 with retrospective awards from 1914. Obviously there will be no entries in the London Gazette before 1916. However retrospective awards are contained in the lists post the date the medal was established. Example of award retrospective to 1914 Tim
As someone with an interest in both World Wars, I thank you again for your input folks - every day is a school day!