just wondering if we have someone who researches or can help with South African records. Ive lost my Paypal account as they have shut me out for some reason. looking for information on A.J.Preiss 578528 , Italy star, BWM and ASM any info appreciated, thanks edit: believed to be Air Force.
Hi Chaz - what do you need the info for? What sort of info?? Where did you get your first few bits of information from? Can you scan whatever you have or post a link to where you got it so we don't waste time looking up stuff you already know. With his service number, was there any letters before or after it - such as P.578528 I will have a rummage around to see if his details pop up. cheers Dave PS - what does your paypal account have to do with things? Did you mean ancestry account???
Hi Dave Ive just purchased his trio with ribbon bar. as with all my collection I try to build up their story. With WW2 its harder as records have not been released yet. Ive 5 other SA groups which I had Rhino research look at for me and sent over , normally paid with Paypal but as they wont let me use my account any more I cant pay , Ive got FMPP account but its not as good as Ancestry BUT I get problems looking for people, even on Family War Records I cant find either of my parents. Ive had a google for Preiss and also Family War Records but not found anything, No prefix to number ,I had to get another collector to buy for me with paypal and then sent him a cheque, he mentioned that Preiss was RAF. that's all I know.
From what I have read the Africa Service Medal was issued to members of the Union Defence Forces during WW11 so I don't think it would have been issued to someone in the RAF. Can I ask what proof you have that the medals were issued to A J Preiss. If he served in the South African Air force his record would be available from the Documentation Centre SANDF. You can e-mail them on sandfdoc@mweb.co.za There is no charge
Cheers Chaz - I presume that means that SA medals are impressed with the recipient's details. I got nowhere with my brief look, no hits in the London Gazette, but I only think SA service personnel showed up in there if they received a gallantry decoration. For some reason the surname sounded familiar from when I was looking into 4SQN SAAF, but that turned out to be Du Plessis (not even close.....) Some good info from Diane, I didn't know that the SANDF offered such a great service. Assuming that he was part of the SAAF then his service number would indicate that he probably joined up late in the war. Sometimes the CWGC can be used to get an impression and this entry: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/991207/VAN%20RENSBURG,%20T%20J shows a junior airman who died early in 1945 in SA probably at a training base.
I have just applied for the record of a South African serviceman. Their reply is that they will post a Certificate of Service to me. I'm not sure what information will be on the certificate or how long it will take. They will not send the certificate electronically. So best of luck Diane
still waiting for reply from sandfdoc , in the mean time Audrey at Rhino research wants £40 +10p per photo , I think I might be ok as a relation of hers is in England and I can pay them by cheque.
took a while but the sandf did reply , free of charge. Andrew Joseph was an Airman in the SA Air Force.Attested 02/09/1942 looks like moved from Mobile Air Force depot , Middle East in December 44 to Advance Transit Camp until August 45. on 17th April 1945 he is listed as Wounded in Action. Discharged 25th Feb 46 as Rank of Sergeant , Medically unfit. aapart from birth and original occupation along with Personal details thats his record. still, a bit more meat on the bones as they say.. so yes, the Air Force did receive African Service Medal, there is a chart on record. just a query, he attested in september 42 and his ROS says Mobile Air Force Depot (Middle East) from 10/12/44 to 31/12/44. presumably he would have been based somewhere between attestation and Middle East posting??
