A long shot but thought I would chance it anyway A friend found an Africa General Service Medal with Kenya Clasp and would like to re-unite it with its owner or at least the owner's family. The name engraved on the side of the medal is Pte I Emerson, service number 23250820 of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. It would be great to be able to track down this person or their family so that this can be returned to them, or if anyone has any advice as to how we could find them it would be great. Have already contacted the Regimental Museum and they are unable to help.
Hi DPas Any chance of narrowing the year of the medal? - I note from Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_General_Service_Medal: The Africa General Service Medal 1902-1956 was a campaign medal of the Commonwealth. It was awarded for minor campaigns in tropical Africa, it was still current in 1914 and nine later clasps were issued. The medal is never seen without a clasp and some are very rare, most being granted to local forces like the King's African Rifles. So depending on which monarch it is should provide some information as to when it was presented and hence some rough idea of when this man was born/lived TD
Elizabeth II ,for service between 21 October 1952 and 17 November 1956 during the Mau Mau Uprising. KSLI were deployed in 1955? Kyle
Kyle beat me to it: CLASP: Kenya, this clasp was awarded fifty years after the medal was introduced and is by far the most common, for service between 21 October 1952 and 17 November 1956 during the Mau Mau Uprising by the Kikuyu people. A large number of British regiments and Royal Air Force squadrons received the medal. DPas have you tried contacting the MOD or the medal office TD edited to add: Where was the medal found and when??
These may be able to help;- http://limostwanted.wordpress.com/ksli/ Theres one old posting on there which states "On the 1st Saturday every August we hold a Kenya night at Bridgnorth." theres contact details for the poster on site Kyle
Yes, the KSLI were in Kenya from 1955 to 1956, but it really does not narrow down the person. I doubt the MOD would give out personal details and especially not family details if Pte Emerson is no longer with us. Kyle - thanks very much for the link. I will put up an enquiry there.
Hello Dave, I believe it might aid TD actually, he`s excellent at finding people using his genealogy knowledge and with National service still in until 1960 Pte Emerson would be 18-19 (ish) years in 1955-56 working back he may be able to trace a record of his birth? With that possibly a mention in a family tree with surviving relatives or the person himself? Glad the link was of use hopefully you will get a reply soon? Kyle
Yes, that was not meant as dismissive of anyone's efforts whatsoever. If it gets me an answer, I will be very grateful.
Hi DPas I cannot find anything for this man on Ancestry, seems as though Emerson is not a common name but births seem to be mainly female for some reason - even searching for births from 1910 - 1940, there are a couple of males with an initial 'I' but only as a middle initial. This may mean that he was born outside the UK, maybe a 'service brat' I assume it has been reported to the police near to where it was lost?? - was it lost near a memorial, or during a ceremony?? maybe the organisers have been asked if anyone found a medal - just thinking of alternates which may have been covered already TD edited to add: The purpose of mentioning the MOD and the Medal Office was mainly to see if the medal was returned to them would/could they forward it to the owner - assuming he is still alive.
