Hi all, Just a brief introduction.. I am looking for some information regarding my grandfathers war records. I'm from the UK and this looks like the best place to start! My 1st grandfather was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. I have created a free website page which shows his army record book along with a few photos! Royal-scots-fusiliers I'm looking to see where he may have been, as he joined the army quite late in the war during 1944 as he was in prison from 1940-43. I know he was in Palastine after the war, but not sure where he was in 1944 Many thanks in advance.. Lee
Welcome to the forum. I see in one photo he has the lion rampant of 15th Scottish Division. I suggest applying to the MoD for his full service records as a starting point. edit: war diaries for 6 RSF here. 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division / War Diaries (June 1944 - May 1945) another edit: looking at other pics post war looks like he in 1st South Lancs (as in letter & cap badges) in 3rd Div, photos with triangle div insignia
Hi, Sorry can't help re your queries but FYI the medal order in the picture on the web page is incorrect. Should be - from the left 39/45 Star F&G Star Defence Medal War Medal GSM Palestine 45/48 The DM & WM should have the obverse ie KINGS HEAD showing. Good Luck Steve Y
Thanks Chaps, I'll apply for his service records as suggested. The Link to the Scottish Infantry diary is excellent, and I remember him talking about Nijmegen (as seen in Feb 1945)! Strange thing is he wasn't actually Scottish.. not sure how he ended up in a Scottish Division! I didn't realise there was an order to his medals, so I'll organise to get them changed - thanks (Steve) for the info.
As I've said on here many times, it was the British Army, men were sent to where the army needed men. It made no difference where they came from.
Hi Steve You are of course quite correct. I just thought I'd point out that that GSM was brought into use before the war. My father had the same medal BEFORE all his war medals as he had the clasp Palestine which was issued before the war. By the end of his service he also had Palestine 45-48, Malaya and Cyprus, but the medal stayed on the left (after his MC of course). Chris
Hi Chris, I'm not a medal expert and don't want to confuse the OP or high jack the thread. The General Service Medal 1918/62 was issued with a clasp identifying the conflict for which it was issued. If there was an entitlement to 2 or more GSM it was usual that an additional clasp would be issued for attachment to the Medal. In relation to service in Palestine there is an entitlement to GSM with clasps named - 1. Palestine (covering service during the Arab Revolt 1936/39). and 2. Palestine 1945 - 1948 (covering service during the troubles pre Israel independence). The dates on the latter clasp are to differentiate it from the earlier entitlement. If a soldier was entitled to both pre and post WW2 Palestine GSM he would ordinarily be issued with the 2nd clasp for attachment to his GSM medal. In the OP's circumstances my original advice re order of wear is correct as his GSM was issued in relation to service post WW2. My father was also awarded the pre WW2 Palestine GSM - he is pictured on the left in my avatar in Jerusalem in early 1939. Just for completeness and to give the OP full understanding I presume your father would have the one GSM with 4 clasps? Regards Steve Y
