Hello again my newest bunch of friends :biggrin: As a few of you know my Grandad served in the Essex, Dorsets & possibly either the 43rd Wessex or 50th Northumbrian. I am trying to put together a memory frame in his honour. I have bought an Allied Ex Prisoners of War medal & a Forces In Germany one. I know he was injured, so would he be entitled to a Hors de Combat one too? And any others? I also bought an Armed Forces Veteran badge & a sterling silver WW2 Veterans badge. Any help greatly appreciated
Mandy If he was wounded in action (WIA) then he is entitled to a gold stripe 2" x 1/8" to be worn near the cuff of the lower left arm..No hors de combat - just the stripe - only the war stars and medals are worn on the left breast . and for the Army - this is the 1939-45 Star - Africa Star - Italy Star - F&G Star - Burma Star - Defence MEDAL - 1939-45 MEDAL- Korea and others since WW2 Colours are important with the dark blue to represent the Royal Navy: - red = Army: light blue = RAF Cheers
Tom. I think the recognition of the gold stripe accorded to those wounded in battle should be carried forward in to civilian life by the award of a 'wounded bar' to the appropriate campaign medal. Joey
I just wondered if it would be appropriate to buy an Hors de Combat & maybe a BAOR? & anything else that would be "right" for him to have.
Joe that would be tough one to sell the politicians with - I didn't know about the stripe until the surgeon - finishing dressing my skin grafts said - " I wound stripe for you - another op for me "- next followed a nurse with a needle about a foot long - which scared the hell out of me until she irrigated the grafts... Cheers
Tom. Yes, I agree. I don't argue this with great feeling. But when I see lads who lost limbs and are severely disabled as they bear and daily suffer the scars of battle for life, I feel their Medals should reflect the special Honour they deserve. However, I would argue as strongly as possible that it is much more important our Nation ensures they have the medical and financial support they have won as a right for as long as they live. Joe
Joe ten minute talk with Sapper will show how the badly injured are NOT treated too well in any circumstance and the paltry allowance for Sheila's 100% attention is just downright bloody scandalous and they are threatening reductions…Brian was shocked when I told him how the Canadian Vets were treated as one of my friends had been hurt in Ottawa during the war but didn't think too much of it until he was nearly sixty when it began to play up - he then applied - had a medical and interview and was awarded $6000: ( 3797GBP ) and $1200 (795GBp) per month passed on to his widow on his death….the British Govt. would die with that pay out..but they can spend 1.5 BILLION on illegal immigrants annually…that's the rub Cheers
Joe - scandalous is hardly the word….here is the list of services available to a wounded Canadian veteran - 1- aids for daily living ( grass cutting and gardening - Window washing - house cleaning) 2- Ambulance(medical travel) - 3 - Audio hearing services 4- Dental services - 5 Hospital services - 6 - Medical services - 7- Medical supplies- 8 - Nursing services ( home and away) -9- Oxygen therapy - 10- Prescription drugs - 11 - Prosthetics & Orthotics - 12- Related Health services - 13- special equipment - 14 - Vision (eye) care…NB - ALL FREE and if a new bathroom is needed they come and talk to you..and limit the overall cost - again for free…oh - and a minimum of around $500 per month Brian can only wish for some of that... Cheers
For what ever reason I don't think this country has ever looked after it's service personnel and please do not think I am wanting to offend anyone on here or offend our war dead but after learning the true horrors that everyone went through in the wars when I do my little poppy parade at dads/uncle's graves I will feel it is not enough but it is all I can do and will do it as always with pride
Tom thanks for another history lesson on the medals your mind is like a war wiki , I did not know that the wounded were given a stripe seems so little for the wounds received
Our Bill Talk to sapper - he was a glutton - he got TWO wound stripes - I only got the one but hit three times - rotten lot..! Cheers
just to add to the initial topic, i'm personally not a fan of commemorative medals. i think the medals he earned and was issued are the only ones people should wear/frame etc. but thats just my opinion. on the subject of veteran help, i think that we lag behind alot of countries with our treatment of veterans post service. i'm currently based in the US and they are amazing with the support ex service members receive. it certainly highlights to me some of our country's shortfalls in this respect
Pierce09 that's a good point about the medals as at the moment I have that decision to make , we only have dads Burma star and it did cross my mind to buy the replicas that can be bought to use in my frame mounting but because of how my mind works it s telling me no way as when the frames up on the wall and visitors comment to say no they are not dads they are replicas would to me spoil the moment. And no way could I buy a medal that was awarded to someone else to display as my dads . I would be no good as a collector of military items would I Tom Canning I love reading the banter between you and Sapper and as sad as it may seem I am reading past posts and I am back to 2006 . You two so remind me of my dad , you say it as it is without malice and so matter of fact.
I had that decision to make when I began my research. Nan did not keep Grandad's medals and so I have replaced these purely for my own needs with replicas. I do collect the odd medal here and there as an off shoot hobby from my research, I find them both physically fascinating in the tactile sense, but what I appreciate more is that each medal or group tells its own story.
That's a good point Bamboo43 something I have to consider as I have to say the chap who will be mounting mine in a frame has a collection in a frame on display at the West Yorkshire Regiment Museum and I keep imagining it without all the medals and it just does not look the same . What I would like to ask on the medals subject is and I know it's personal preference but why do men who get awarded their medals shy away from them and throw them in a drawer . My son has 4 from recent campaigns and until he read his grandads research I had done and l told him I wanted to display them with his grandads medals I had never seen his medals and he finally gave them to me last week. And he like my father never mentions his experiences.
Elsie, I cannot say why for sure, but maybe its because unlike those who have never served (like me), Armed Forces personnel prefer to focus on the comrades and friends they met and the times they enjoyed/endured and shared, rather than the medals they received.
Elsie, Here is how I display my grandfather's entitlement, along with the medals are his two regimental cap badges and a Chindit insignia flash. Also kept in the case is his wallet and the photographs he sent back to Nan from India. Oh and I nearly forgot, the small pebble was fished out of the Irrawaddy River by yours truly on the 27th February 2008. Apologies for the wonky War Medal.
Our Bill No need to fear replicas as he was entitled to them as replacements as we all lose them - Haven't seen mine in years and wear miniatures - some wonder why mine are small compared to their husbands' but I brush them off by saying that mine are too heavy and tear my blazer…….your Dad is ENTITLED to the 1939/45 STAR - BURMA STAR - 1939/45 MEDAL….and possibly the DEFENCE MEDAL..so check that out as well as a wound stripe…. Sapper and I go way back - especially as I visited him a few years ago on one of my trips to the Uk - we had three hour laugh fest…..but he forgot ( he says) to buy batteries for his camera - so no record of the visit….and Sheila - his demented wife is a saint for putting up with him for 3 pounds per week from a generous Government Cheers
