Hello, XXXXXX after info

aren't we all,...

My Grandfather was with the Royal Engineers in WW2, a sapper with the Bomb Disposal lot, blowing bridges to stop the Germans...

that much I do know...

I am going through the process of getting his war records, and my Mother has kindly given me his medals, this is because I am now at an age and understanding where they mean something..

I served in the RAF myself from 1994-2006, and now ride with the RBL riders Branch, raising awareness and donations for the poppy appeal.

anyway, between some freinds on RBLR.co.uk, I have managed to find out about most of his medals but 2 have got us stumped,

the first is the King Albert1 medal, and the 2nd the France Libre.. the france Libre doesnt look like any we have seen/found by colour and ribbon? and the King Alfred 1, was issued for WW1, but I have seen it mounted with medals for Dunkirk and the Somme, (he has a Somme 40 Medal)...

Thank you for reading this and any help..

Simon

 

i am miles from an expert on this subject, i dont pretend to know what the medals are but the first two pictures are in the form of, what i call, the Vichy Cross. Also the words "Free France" inscribed. like i say im no expert but looks a bit sinister to me.

 

heres my Grandfather...

 

Hi Simon and welcome to the forum.

Give us a shout when you get his service records-I have an interest in the 1940 France and Flanders part of the war and maybe able to help you further if he served there.

Good luck
Andy

 

Hi Simon and welcome to the forum.
Hopefully one of our medal experts will be along shortly, I don't think I have seen either of those.
Well done the RBL Riders for work at Wooton Basset, I am a Branch Committee member myself.

 

Hi Simon and welcome to the forum.

Give us a shout when you get his service records-I have an interest in the 1940 France and Flanders part of the war and maybe able to help you further if he served there.

Good luck
Andy
Thanks Andy, my mum has some papers of his, but not his official ones, ..

 

Anything mentioning a unit like a postal address?

 

Anything mentioning a unit like a postal address?

from my mother
William Gorman had served Bomb disposal in the RE’S during world war II and came from Salford, his elder brother served named George Gorman and his brother Lawrence.
He was awarded both UK and English medals for courage and for working in what was resistance in Holland when mining German bridges. He was a Sapper and had his medals for his work behind enemy lines destroying bridges so the German army could not advance.
He was Sapper William Gorman, RE. He was injured by a bomb and went to be a batman to the CO a the Kent base of Chatham after the war.

 

Simonevans

Amongst our great troop of veterans in the forum, is a man we call " Sapper ". I am sure he will on board soon to assist with all of your inquiries.

welcome from Canada

 

Should the MiD be worn on the War Medal and not the star?

 

Should the MiD be worn on the War Medal and not the star?
Wills, thanks, and agreed, but i took the photos as they were when handed to me, so I knew what was what before taking them off the bars for individual photos.. I am awaiting my mother as NOK to apply for his service papers which should list which medals were awarded and MiD...

 

Some excellent sleuths on here they can track an MiD record down for you - good hunting!

 

Welcome to the forum Simon - enjoy!

Best,

Steve.

 

The nearest I could find was a Terry Gorman:

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

From a BEF point of view you'd need his service records to proceed further so you can ID the unit he was with in France

A

 

The nearest I could find was a Terry Gorman:

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

From a BEF point of view you'd need his service records to proceed further so you can ID the unit he was with in France

A
Ok, Thanks.. will look at getting his UK medals mounted first, and then a frame job...

Cheers for your help, be back soon when i have more intel...

 

Hello and welcome. Hope we can help.

 

from my mother
William Gorman had served Bomb disposal in the RE’S during world war II and came from Salford, his elder brother served named George Gorman and his brother Lawrence.
He was awarded both UK and English medals for courage and for working in what was resistance in Holland when mining German bridges. He was a Sapper and had his medals for his work behind enemy lines destroying bridges so the German army could not advance.
He was Sapper William Gorman, RE. He was injured by a bomb and went to be a batman to the CO a the Kent base of Chatham after the war.
Welcome Simon, in regard to William Gorman drop Chris, a PM here. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/members/chrisr.html

 

Simon , welcome to the forum.
If you're wondering why there are several XXXX in the thread title it's cos we banned the word 'n e w b i e'.

see here.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/network-information/35898-n-o-o-b-n-o-o-b-i-e.html
understood.

 

Billy was William Henry Gorman, and joined aged 19, on the 15th of Feb, 1940 in the Royal Engineers Volunteers, he served in France and in Dunkirk, He was in No 2 Bomb Disposal, and in till after the war, He was mentioned in Despatches, He was in the Commbatants Resistance Association.