Just been informed that a member of my family was awarded the military medal whilst in the royal artillery during WW1. However that side of the family hit bad times during the depression and after his death, the medal, like so many others, was sold. Does anyone have any experience regarding a) how I can find the details for how/when the medal was won. and b) if it is possible to get a new version of the medal made to replace it. adam
Hi Adam, If you could post your family members full name I'm sure someone will be able to help, or at least point you in the right direction. Regards Peter
My Grandfather was also awarded the MM in WW1, he was RHA going on to Machine Gun Corps and Tank Corps. I have been trying to find out for years how, where and why he was awarded the medal. The main problem is that although I have a copy of his medal card and a copy of the page of the London Gazette where it was listed, there were no citations for the MM until after WW1. The only way would be war diaries or the history room of the Battery he was with when he was awarded the medal.
I'm affraid I don't know anything save his name, Robert Johnson, Royal Field artillery. We dont have any service numbers because we cant find them, there seem to be a few Robert Johnsons and I have no idea where to look for the medal records. *edit* it may have been 1915 he was awarded it. But my family isn't sure.
I'm affraid I don't know anything save his name, Robert Johnson, Royal Field artillery. We dont have any service numbers because we cant find them, there seem to be a few Robert Johnsons and I have no idea where to look for the medal records. *edit* it may have been 1915 he was awarded it. But my family isn't sure. This may or may not help, but if you search the London Gazette for Robert Johnson it may kick up a few results, but I would have hoped that there wouldn't be too many R. Johnsons in the RFA who would have won the MM. Time wise the Gazette entry can be several months after the award, but will give his Regimental number, his rank and town he was from, which may help if there are more than one. These will help in finding his medal card which, if obtainable, will have his Battery at the time. That should give you some info to further your search.... and I hope you have more luck than me.
I've don a quick search in the London Gazette for all the WW1 years and all the hits with "R. Johnson R.F.A" are hits with 'R' as the second initial. If you could find out his middle names I'm sure we will be able to find where it was Gazetted.
Hi, yes he survived the war. I'm not sure of his middle name, although the only surviving relative says he did not have one. I also believe he was born in the north east. I'm not really sure how to find out MM awardees, so any help, again, would be really appreciated. adam
Hi, yes he survived the war. I'm not sure of his middle name, although the only surviving relative says he did not have one. I also believe he was born in the north east. I'm not really sure how to find out MM awardees, so any help, again, would be really appreciated. adam I have been searching London Gazette Home Page to try and find him. But there were no results for just plain R. Johnson R.F.A. If he won the MM, it will have been Gazetted and once found, you will have his Regt No which will help in further searches for his medal card and other records.
Here is absolutely everything that we have. Fortunately I have a family member who is interested in family history who has been able to help me; but this is a major family mystery as we cannot find out what artillery regt he was a member of, what the medal was won for, or where. Robert Johnson, born 17 August 1893, 41 Exeter St, Pallion, Sunderland. Died 1 Apr 1942. The following is taken from the Sunderland Echo, 8 Jan 1917. It seems the medal was for an action in 1915, but presented in 1917. This is the only record my family has ever been able to find... "War Honours for Northern Soldiers. Military Medal, Bombardier R. Johnson. Presentation of Military Medal on Thursday at a gathering of the Officials. Foremen and workmen of the North Eastern Marine Engineering Company Ltd., South Docks. Mr George D Weir, Manager of the works, presented Bombardier R Johnson, Royal Field Artillery, with the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Bombardier Johnson was on active service from Dec 1915 to Apr 1916 and is now engaged on munitions as an apprentice fitter having been sent back to his work. Mr Weir in making the presentation said that the medal had been forwarded to him with an official request that "this honourable mark of distinction should be presented in a public manner".
Kind of relieved to see it's not just me that's ended up a little stumped while trying to work out the specifics of a WW1 MM award . Sgt.Adams_MM
Apparently my family have been trying to get the details of it for years to no avail. I've had a look through the website reccomended, and there doesn't seem to be anything. Besides the small newspaper article mentioned previously (which didnt give any reference!) there doesn't seem to be a mention at all. Completely stumped.
I have had a look at the MICs on Ancestry and there is no obvious candidate. I can't find any Robert Johnsons in the Royal Field Artillery who were awarded a MM. There are only two men who went overseas in December 1915, details below. Not sure either are your chap. No service record for a Robert Johnson who was born in Sunderland in 1893 surivives unfortunately.
Right, There are 3 possibles: L/11472 Driver R. Johnson 134857 Gunner R. Johnson 1159 Bombardier R. Johnson What you need to do is check the gazette for these names to see if they won the MM or the DCM (as they were on a dcm mm MIC). The last chap looks like him but you need to confirm it. Donnie
134857 Gunner R. Johnson was Gazetted on the 12 March 1918 for a Military Medal possibly a Bar. Interestingly it says he comes from Sunderland, though he never made Bombardier. Donnie
L/11472 Driver R. Johnson was Gazetted on 12 March 1918 for the Military Medal but came from Crook. Donnie
To sum it up, 1159 Bombardier R. Johnson is your man, and you did mention that he was on active service until April 1916 which would tie in with the Gazette date...... Donnie
