Hi: For the Faces-to-Graves project of Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, I am researching the soldier, Captain Thomas Emmet Clarke, age 29, who was killed in action on April 17. He was a member of the No 5 Provost Coy, Canadian Provost Corps. He also was listed among the 17 Canadian names on the Traces-of-War memorial plaque about this battle. Liberation Memorials Otterlo - Otterlo - TracesOfWar.com The assistance I need is to determine what "gallant and distinguished service" he gave to be awarded the Mentioned in Despatches (Posthumously). See the two attachments, the second one me tioned three references to "Review" of the soldier's actions. He did served in Sicily and Italy in 1943-44 and then in fall of 1944 he went to Belgium and the Netherlands. So maybe it is cumulative for all three theatres? Kurt Johnson, Ottawa, Canada
Kurt From what I have seen on here you have more than many regarding knowing what an MiD was awarded for. Generally they are for services provided over a length of time as opposed to gallantry awards which are normally awarded for a very specific action over a short period of time and witnessed by various other people. I believe there is a book somewhere showing MiD's but have no idea where to find it I'm afraid TD Example : For his war services Clarke was three times Mentioned in Despatches - it doesnt say if he was awarded all or any of them It also seems that an MiD can be awarded to a Regiment, not only an individual: The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment fought in the French and Indian Wars in North America before defeating George Washington at the Battle of Long Island in 1776 during the American War of Independence (1775-83). It served in both Egypt and Spain during the Napoleonic Wars and was mentioned in despatches for its service at Quatre Bras and Waterloo (1815) A recommendation for the VC is normally issued by an officer at regimental level, or equivalent, and has to be supported by three witnesses, although this has been waived on occasion
Kurt, In the London gazette, of 08 January 1946, supplement: 37425 see page 392, the list of recipients for the Mentioned in Dispatches. Thomas is mentioned on page 396 About Citations, same as TD already mention, on the IWM page about decorations Gallantry medals are awarded for an especially heroic deed or action. Announcements are listed in the official journal The London Gazette. For some but not all awards, there may also be a separate citation, which describes the action for which the award was made. There are no citations for awards of the Military Medal or Mentions in Despatches. Operational records or a published regimental/unit history might provide some details, although the individual may not be named. Newspapers may also include an account of the action although for security reasons key details such as locations and unit names are usually removed.
********************** Yes, thank you. this is very helpful to my understand. I have in some past examples encountered the actual unit's "recommendation passed forward" for a MiD. That has in past denoted what circumstances of such a Mention. It is the "Action for which commended" that I am seeking. I now see that this happened three times -- I suspect his actions in Sicily and Italy were commended... the he was Lieutenant with the LAA Regiment, RCA. He was promoted to Captain and switched to C Prov C in Italy and then was with the No 5 Prov Coy for Belgium 1944 and Netherlands 1945.
Kurt, Here the official page where you can find Recommendations for Honours and Awards for Gallant and Distinguished Service For a better search use Geoff's WO 373 website
From another thread - It states Mentioned in Dispatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the ME [Middle East] during the period 1/5/42 - 22/10/42 (London Gazette 22 June 1943) So basically he was a really good chap over 5 months but probably not in the face of the enemy or for one specific action TD