Collecting WW2 Gallantry and Campaign Medals Hints and Tips

Discussion in 'WW2 Militaria' started by Drew5233, Aug 26, 2014.

  1. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    CL1 likes this.
  2. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Strange, I don't see him on the Roll of Honour covering 1948 onward, also odd that it mentions appears to have died from wounds etc but he doesn't show in any casualty returns as wounded. I'm guessing he had been demobbed and his medals being issued and his death was not directly service related, but would be interesting to get the full story
     
  3. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Thats why I initially dismissed them ,however that medal slip made me revisit . Theres a probate record for him same address as the box but he didnt die there he died at Ulmus Cottage Ferringham Lane,Sussex.
    probate.jpg

    The photograph shows a collar and tie ,late war-post war and it has a St Niklaas,Belgium stamp on the back?

    UPDATED
    Theres a couple of newspaper articles regarding an inquest. He hung himself after been discharged from the army with (TB ?) Sorry subscriptions lapsed

    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2021
    BrianHall1963, CL1 and AB64 like this.
  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Updating this post, Townsend's medals sold today for £260,000.

    Lot 126, Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria (21 July 2021) | Dix Noonan Webb
     
    JimHerriot likes this.
  5. Patte62

    Patte62 Member

    To all the English Members here, can anyone explain on wich occassion the War Medal 1939-45 and the Defence Medal 1939-45 were given to English soldiers of the Commonwealth? I've been able to obtain one of each medal by a collector friend, who passed those 2 medals to complete my collection. I'm living in Belgium and doing research for fallen soldiers in Belgium, Luxemburg, France and the Netherlands in both WW's, but I've never had a good information about the who and why those medals were awarded. Hereby the photos of my new Medals upload_2023-2-4_13-36-45.jpeg upload_2023-2-4_13-36-56.jpeg upload_2023-2-4_13-37-7.jpeg upload_2023-2-4_13-37-17.jpeg
     
  6. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    The War Medal simply required 28 days full time service in the armed forces between 3rd Sept 1939 & 2nd Sept 1945.

    The Defence Medal eligibility criteria is more complicated -

    FROM UK MOD SITE


    The Defence Medal is awarded for non-operational service such as those service personnel working in headquarters, on training bases and airfields and members of the Home Guard. The medal is also awarded for non-operational service overseas for example in India or South Africa.

    To apply for the Defence Medal, you must have either:

    • 1080 days (3 years) service in the UK between 3 Sep 1939 and 8 May 1945
    • 1080 days (3 years) service in the Home Guard between 14 May 1940 and 31 Dec 1944 (you will also need to fill out and send the Home Guard service questionnaire)
    • 360 days (1 year) non operational service overseas between 3 Sep 1939 and 2 Sep 1945
    • 180 days non operational service in an overseas area deemed to be closely threatened or subject to air attack between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945
    The colours of the ribbon symbolise enemy attacks on Britain’s ‘green and pleasant land’ and the black out.

    Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility

    Steve
     
    timuk likes this.
  7. Patte62

    Patte62 Member

    Thanks Steve for this clarification, now I'm knowing a bit more about the conditions witch were needed to obtain those medals.
     
  8. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Typically a British soldier conscripted between Sept 39 and May 1941 who remained in UK on home Defence and training until taking part in the June 1944 Normandy Invasion would have a Defence Medal entitlement.

    A soldier who joined the army between the same dates and went to North Africa from UK in late 1941 and saw continuous active service and was taken prisoner at say Tobruk in June 1942 would have no Defence medal entitlement.

    Similarly those who saw active service in 1940 in France & Belgium with BEF or Norway with NWEF and were taken POW had no Defence medal entitlement - all they earned was a 39/45 Star and The War Medal.

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2023
    timuk likes this.
  9. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

  10. Patte62

    Patte62 Member

    Thanks Steve and Tim also for the clarification
     

Share This Page