Help figuring out uniforms, medals, badges, vehicles!

That makes sense Steve - didn’t see the other thread.

n.b. I wasn’t thinking of previous WW1 service particularly, just keeping an open mind to the possibility of James having resigned a commission before WW2 – now obviously not the case.

Out of interest, do you know whether clasps earned during the reign of one monarch were attached to a GSM issued during the reign of their predecessor?

 

Yes, you are absolutely right! Of course that would be the Danish freedom fighters! During the war, my dad parashuted down in Denmark with money for the Danish freedom fighters to buy weapons. When he returned in 1967 (to marry my mother), they remembered him, and he became an honorary member of the Danish freedom fighters!
They used to have yearly celebrations in Mindelunden here in Denmark, and the survivors gathered there to remember the ones who had fallen. It was all very beautiful. Thank you for reminding me!

 

Hi,

Here is a link to a GVI GSM with Malaya & Cyprus clasps on EBAY.

As eligibility for Cyprus clasp commenced in 1955 it is a QEII Cyprus clasp on the GVI medal. The Malaya clasp predates 1952 (eligibility 1948/1960) but if had been earned post 1952 it would have been a QEII medal with Malaya & Cyprus clasp.

Steve

GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH 2 CLASPS CYPRUS & MALAYA 1921026 C. WOOLHOUSE, R.A.F. | eBay

 

Good spot, my eyes were tricking me into thinking the black/gold were central, but on the medal the line of the top of the wall was confusing me as it didn't match the 2 I was looking at with central stripes

 

Oh, dear - I have strong suspicions about who gave the russian medal to him in 1995. There’s a story behind that.
It looks like the medals are not representative of his war - I think he must have just worn whatever people had given to him!
I’m back to waiting for service papers…

 

Hi,

Sorry to hear that you now suspect that “the medals are not representative of his war”.

Please come back to the forum with any more queries - especially confirmation of the details on the rims of the 2 General Service Medals he is wearing that you say your brother has in his possession.

Steve

 

I certainly will - and thank you again for all of your assistance. It’s certainly appreciated, even if I might not like all of the answers I am finding

 

Just a thought…..you ought to consider an application for his IDF service record as it may contain a reference to his previous service in British Army in WW2.

I’ve seen U.K. files for men who emigrated to CANADA & Australia in the 1950’s and joined the army there where the U.K. files contained enquiries from the new unit about previous service as it had an impact on their new pay & conditions.

I’ve often thought that the Israeli Prison staff - shown on black and white TV images - guarding Adolf Eichmann at his trial were wearing British WW2 campaign medal ribbons on their uniforms.

Steve

 

Steve, I honestly don’t know why I didn’t consider that, but yes, you are right! I will definitely apply to the IDF as well!

 

The 2 medals on the far right of the row are the British post WW2 GSM’s and they ought to have details of the recipient engraved on the rims.

The details should be visible despite the medal group being mounted. A photograph of each medal rim would be helpful.

I can see that the GVI GSM has the Palestine 1945/48 clasp attached. The medal rolls for that award are available on the Ancestry site.

The second GSM is a QEII issue with a Cyprus clasp - it would’ve been issued for service 1955/59.

If the recipient details are consistent on both medals it may provide proof/corroboration of the name your father used, and his unit, whilst serving in the British Army (at least post WW2 and perhaps earlier).

The details may assist you in your application for his service records and open up further lines of enquiry for forum members.

Steve

 

The Palestine 1945-48 rolls are also available to download from TNA.

 

Hello again,
The medals previously mentioned in this thread turn out to have been purchased, and my father’s original medals lost. At this point, I am trying to procure his service records to get confirmation (or the opposite) on whether he participated in those specific battles.

 

Sorry, Owen, for being a bit slow! This is the one medal that I would know without having to look up. It’s a Danish medal, and it is a 1985 award from De Allierede Danske Våbenfæller (The Danish War Veterans of the Allies). It was given for participating in WW2 on the side of The Allies, so a very general medal.

 

Hi,

I can’t help with the Parachute emblem and I don’t have sufficient knowledge to express an opinion on the veracity of the DSO.

The Campaign Medals appear genuine. The issue is whether his British military service mean he is entitled to them. That question can only be answered by his service record.

The slip from the War Office wasn’t usually sent out with a man’s details recorded on it. In my opinion your father’s details have been added post receipt of the slip.

I can’t pass an opinion on the “X” marks beside the medals other than to say I’ve not seen such annotation previously. In relation to the “7” I’d say it is written in pen over a previous number. On my father’s slip “4” is written in pencil.

The 2 GSM appear to be correct and genuinely engraved. Hopefully a member with access to Ancestry will turn up the medal roll for Bombardier Price of the Royal Artillery. The Cyprus GSM is for a Craftsman Bennett of the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.

I was keen to have sight of the rims as it has been known for the original recipient details to be erased and replaced by details of a non entitled person but the engraving appears to be original in both medals.

In my opinion your father is not entitled to the GSM medals and they have likely been acquired and added to this “medal rack” for some unknown reason.

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

Thank you for interpreting the writing on the rim. Obviously I’m disappointed that they are not my dad’s, but according to my brother, his original medals are lost forever, so I guess the service records are still my best/only hope of finding out about his whereabouts during the war.
I’m not too disheartened, though - I genuinely believe my father did have the original medals. I just don’t know what they were awarded to him for, but I think the Palestinian Division is the right track. I hope I will be able to recognise my father’s anecdotes about the war in Wellesley Aron’s book, Wheels in the Storm.
It could be interesting to find out what happened to Bombadier Price and Craftsman Bennett. I wonder what made them willing to part with their medals.

 

There seems to be mention of "James Spektor DSO" in a Danish author's book....I kamp for Danmark Unfortunately Google Books doesn't have a translate function but reading it as a Dutch speaker who has to read a lot of German, the gist seems to be that his service records have been looked at and don't tie-in...unless they reflect a 'cover story' for someone on special operations.

 

Hi,

Hopefully you will get a speedy positive response from IDF records so you can learn more about your father’s military service.

I’ve no doubt he has an entitlement to some of the WW2 Campaign Medals and hopefully you will discover some documentary evidence to definitively confirm how many.

It is of no great importance - other than for sentimental reasons - that his originally issued medals have been mislaid as none of them were engraved with a soldiers details and if you have replacements no one would know other than you.

Many men don’t attach much significance to their medals and the reasons for their disposal can be diverse and include sale for financial reasons or sale post death of the recipient by family members.

Please return and update us with the result of your enquiries.

Good Luck

Steve

 

Excellent find. Hopefully the OP will be able to contact the author.

Steve