Prompted by a recent post "William Reid" where two of his medals were hanging on the wrong ribbons, I quickly checked to see if this was the same error as per my dads medals. Although the 1939-1945 Star ribbon was wrong in both cases, it had been switched with the Defence Medal in my dad's case. But this set me wondering, how often were mistakes like this made. Do you have any examples in your collection? I refuse to switch dad's ribbons to correct the error, because that's how they were when I inherited them. Ribbons that lack symmetry can also be the wrong way around, but these have a dark blue (or just blue) stripe which "...is worn with the [dark] blue stripe furthest from the left shoulder" And of course they must be worn in the correct order.
Presumably you have noticed your Dad's 39-45 Star ribbon is the wrong way round. Easy way to remember is that it goes with the seniority of the Services. RN (dark blue), Army (red), RAF (light blue). Tim
Worcester Medals based in Bromsgrove did not charge me when I took my fathers medals to him for securing the ribbons - as you can see from CL1's the medals and ribbons are not 'mounted' when you receive them. I would say that any reputable medals business would ribbon the medals for free. I don't have access to my fathers medals at the moment and so I am trying to recall if the company also stamped the rim of the medals with name, rank and service number, as was standard on all WW1 medals but not on WW2 ones TD
hello James see link it was a simple process If you’re applying for someone else’s medal You can apply on behalf of a veteran if you have lasting power of attorney. If the veteran has died, you must be the official next of kin. The general rules for the official next of kin are: the person’s spouse or civil partner has the first claim to the medal, and then the eldest child if there’s no spouse or child, the parent is entitled to apply if there’s no spouse, child or parent, the eldest grandchild is entitled to apply Apply for a veterans badge or a medal regards Clive
Hi, I’ve seen members post “new issue” medals over the past couple of years where each medal is in its own “fancy” separate box (like Jubilee Medals). Steve
I have my paternal grandfathers medals and service documents (Soldiers Pay Book, pass for The Depot East Surrey Regiment, Kingston Upton Thames, travel orders for France etc) But I don't have any details of my maternal grandfathers service. I know he served in the RN on coastal forces during the war but I don't have a service number or exact dates of service. Any idea how I would start with these?
Presume you’re talking about application for service records rather than medals? If so just fill the forms in with the details you have as MOD will search on full name and DOB only. Obviously best to have service number but it doesn’t preclude the search. Good Luck Steve
Once you have got his service record they will confirm if medals issued if not issued you can then claim them
Thanks all for the advice on getting both records and medals, sorry for hijacking someone else's subject threat.
My uncles were not War Heroes one fought in N Africa in Air Formation Signals, 10 line cables then underground cables (In Italy). He arrived in N Africa I 1941 and came home from Italy in 1945. His brother fought as a signaller in Assam and Burma. The Burma medals were lost during house moves the family having been bombed out several times taking years post war to settle in permanent accommodation. The NA And Italy medals were left in a book case with my cousin (who is older than me) in the box that they arrived in together with a table as to which ribbon to attach them to. They never wore them preferring as did their father in WW1 to forget the whole thing as it was all over. None of my family except myself ever attended a Memorial Parade. I did so for 14 years with a certain feeling of guilt as I had never fought in the war. It is perfectly logical that many thousands of men were issued with these medals but did nothing with them until many years later, when in old age and having lost the box or the instructions decided to attend services of Remembrance. The respect between these men was for the actions they fought in, their deeds and camaraderie rather than the medals and ribbons that they wore.
