Hi folks, I'm new to the forum but have been interested in WW2 for many years (ask the wife!!) I mainly post on my favourite topic, WW1. Now, the question....... does anyone out there know if there is a list of names etc that received the DFC???? I've been given (volunteered really) a set of 8 full size medals to tie down a guy's history. The medals are..... MBE (Mily) DFC 39/45 Star Atlantic Star + ACE clasp Africa Star + N Africa 42/43 clasp Italy Star Defence Medal War Medal + MID The problem I have is this, the chap in question, Harry (not Harold) Buckingham, signed up in 1938, did his RAF training on wireless and all things electrical. by 1942 he had risen to the dizzy rank of Corporal. He was discharged due to illness in Aug 1944 - still a Corporal. He was also (I'm assuming) ground crew as his trade was electrician. I have his service record which shows stints with 70, 104 & 108 Sqdns (Wellingtons)... thus the Africa & Italy Stars. DFC's were only issued to Warrant Officers & Commissioned men... he was a Corpl.?????????? The ACE clasp on the Atlantic Star doesn't seem to ring true either. I also have "his" Caterpillar Club membership card stating he was a Flight Sgt. Anyone have any idea about this chap? I've checked the LG and the only Harry Buckingham is a vicar in 1942, getting ordained. Help?!?! Les.
Originally posted by eviltaxman@Aug 2 2004, 07:12 PM Hi folks, I'm new to the forum but have been interested in WW2 for many years (ask the wife!!) I mainly post on my favourite topic, WW1. Now, the question....... does anyone out there know if there is a list of names etc that received the DFC???? I've been given (volunteered really) a set of 8 full size medals to tie down a guy's history. The medals are..... MBE (Mily) DFC 39/45 Star Atlantic Star + ACE clasp Africa Star + N Africa 42/43 clasp Italy Star Defence Medal War Medal + MID The problem I have is this, the chap in question, Harry (not Harold) Buckingham, signed up in 1938, did his RAF training on wireless and all things electrical. by 1942 he had risen to the dizzy rank of Corporal. He was discharged due to illness in Aug 1944 - still a Corporal. He was also (I'm assuming) ground crew as his trade was electrician. I have his service record which shows stints with 70, 104 & 108 Sqdns (Wellingtons)... thus the Africa & Italy Stars. DFC's were only issued to Warrant Officers & Commissioned men... he was a Corpl.?????????? The ACE clasp on the Atlantic Star doesn't seem to ring true either. I also have "his" Caterpillar Club membership card stating he was a Flight Sgt. Anyone have any idea about this chap? I've checked the LG and the only Harry Buckingham is a vicar in 1942, getting ordained. Help?!?! Les. There was a Book published in the 1980s by Alan? Cooper I think listing the DFCs,however if your Harry Buckingham only ever reach the rank of "Flight Sergeant",I doubt he would have the DFC,NCOs were awarded the DFM,although he served with the Squadrons noted,I expect his involvement was G/C only,To be awarded the Atlantic Star he would have been Aircrew on Coastal Command flights/or as Crew on Catapult Ships,then transferred to a Squadron to qualify for the ACE Clasp it was possible,though they are scarce,What date {year}is engraved on the lower limb of the DFC?{all WW2 DFC/AFC are engraved with date of award}This sounds unfortunately like a Group to someone else or a "Composite" group made up to "impress";Have you checked the Gazettes for Harold Buckingham as well?I suspect your Electrician Harry & the owner of the MBE/DFC group are two different folks!
This sounds unfortunately like a Group to someone else or a "Composite" group made up to "impress";Have you checked the Gazettes for Harold Buckingham as well?I suspect your Electrician Harry & the owner of the MBE/DFC group are two different folks! Thanks for the reply. You've basically confirmed what I thought. The MBE is definately his... I have his citation, dated 1944 (which isn't in the LG - anywhere). As for the DFC/ACE clasp/MID.... again, I totally agree, I think it was done to impress the locals etc.... the DFC "medal" is a EiiR copy, but the main suspender is original, as is the ribbon (having had it checked out by a local dealer). My gut feeling (and you have several when you're WW1 minded) is that Harry is only entitled to the MBE, 39/45, Africa + clasp (confirmed on his record), Italy, Defence & War medals. I've scouted around looking for any on-line verification of DFC's, but all I get is the usual American DFC (even whilst doing a UK only search). If anyone out there has a copy of the book by Mr Cooper, would you please be good enough to do a look-up???? Cheers, Les.
london gazzete here is the only mention of a harry buckingham in the london gazette for the dates 1938 to 1945 I cant open the pdf file as I am at work :ph34r: :ph34r:
Morse1001, Thanks... that's the only guy I've found too. This particular one is "Rev. Cecil Harry Buckingham CofE"... being brought in by the Royal Army Chaplains Dept as a Chaplain. The plots thickens Thanks to all for looking. But if anyone else has any (polite) suggestions, please let me know. Cheers, Les
Thanks to all for looking. But if anyone else has any (polite) suggestions, please let me know. Since every award has to appear in the London gazette then not only does the plot thicken but get decidedly dodgy B) B) :ph34r: :ph34r:
Totally agree (again)... every award should be in the LG, but I've had a few WW1 medals that are backed by original citations etc, but never appeared. The MBE is definately his, but the DFC is decidely dodgey. Les.
Originally posted by Sgt Pilot Bernard Henson RAFVR@Aug 4 2004, 03:14 PM Gad Sir The Fellows a Bounder!!!An Absolute Shower! me thinks, Sir! that the fellow is even worse than that. For sath, he is truely a unmitigaged cad! I will now sally forth to to the reere dorta to wash out my mouth for usings such language.
You want 'The Distinguished Flying Cross and how it was won' by N & C Carter, Savannah, 1998. The book is a complete register of all awards, with Gazette details. There is a copy in the library in the NA at Kew, if that is any help! Regards, Geoff
Geoff, That's the book....!!!!!!!!! I knew I'd recognise the name if I heard it. Luckily I'll be paying a visit to the PRO.... sorry NA, either next week or the week after (I've got some WW1 MIC details to get). I'll have to have a closer look when I'm there. Thanks, Les.
Les I think checking the book will be more fool-proof than the Gazette on-line. I had been looking for a James Gillespie Neilson, who I knew had received the DFC. None of my searches on the Gazette website pulled him up. Straight to the answer in the book!! There's a lot to be said for traditional research... Geoff
Originally posted by smith 565@Aug 6 2004, 07:38 AM There's a lot to be said for traditional research... I know what you mean. My main interest is WW1, so the fact the NA have started to put medal index cards online, is a big help.... but there's always that bit of "adventure" doing the actual looking. Les.
The Group look good in the Picture,they have been well mounted,The "ACE" Clasp is an undoubted "Mickey Mouse" too thick & a Nasty Gold colour,the Aralditeit doesn't help none either! ,He {Whoever He was Originally} obviously went to a lot of trouble,if the DFC is a Replacement Copy,I expect it was Re~Mounted on the Suspension Bar in place of an Original WW2 one,Shame! Also the Blob of Goo on the BWM Ribbon suggests he also entitled himself to an MiD/King's Commendation for Brave Conduct in the Air,which is also NOT in the Gazettes;PS any chance of posting the MBE{Military} Award Documentation,is this the Embossed Chancellory of the BE Document??as this would too have been Gazetted & as a Corporal he would have been awarded the British Empire MEDAL Not the MBE,which again would have been reserved for WOs & Junior Officers,for Non Combat Meritorious Service.this group is beginning to appear to be a complete fabrication!!
