It has been a long time since I was last considered to be a junior. It feels good to be called that at my age! I am a South African living in the UK, doing research for the biography that I am writing about my dad, a forgotten hero from the Italian campaign. He fought in the FC/CTH (First City Cape Town Highlanders) and was awarded a US Bronze Star for valour, but apart from the entry in the National Archives, he does not appear on any list of awards. His own unit does not have him down for the award. So I am on a mission to have him installed in his rightful place in the public glare, as the hero that he is. I will appreciate any help that I can get.
Trevor, Hello and welcome to the forum. I am not sure about American awards to foreign recipients, but there are several exremely knowledgeable American nationals on the forum who I am sure will be able to point you in the right direction to American Archives. Good luck with your enquiries. Regards Tom
Hello and welcome, you say you father is listed on TNA recommendations, so I hope that this is the right man. The copy entry for London Gazette, included in the recommendations file, which in itself should be satisfactory proof enough of an award, is attached. I'm sure you already have this, but good luck with your endeavour to have him placed on his unit's RoH. London Gazette page link : Viewing Page 6061 of Issue 38459 The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Name Snyman, Stephanus J Rank: Private Service No: 576602 V Regiment: 1 City of Cape Town Highlanders, 6 South African Armoured Division, Union Defence Force Theatre of Combat or Operation: Foreign to British: USA Award: Bronze Star Medal Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 17 September 1948 Date 1945-1952 Catalogue reference WO 373/149
Are we talking about the Bronze Star awarded to No. 576602.V Private Stephanus J. SNYMAN, Union Defence Force. woops - too late, dbf is already over this
On the plus side I learned something new today, I had never heard of the THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TYPHUS COMMISSION or the associated medal before. Typhus Commission Medal. Captain James A. V. GIRSHAM, Northern Kachin Levies. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Executive Order 9285 - ESTABLISHING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TYPHUS COMMISSION
Thanks for all the replies. As things stand now, the US Military have issued the medal and certificate, I should have it in my hands within days. Their response has been amazing, and the assistance that I had from a senior diplomat in securing it has been remarkable. So the physical evidence has been secured. Getting his name entered into the rolls of the regiment is going to be much more difficult. The FC/CTH was a regiment was an amalgamation of two discrete units, the First City Highlanders, and the Cape Town Highlanders. It was disbanded at the end of hostilities. To add to this, my dad was transferred from Artillery to this unit for the few months that it took for the Allies to wrap up in Italy. It was in these months as an infantryman that he shone. Then the final difficulty is that this amalgamated unit was put under US command rather than British 8th Army command. So while the USA acknowledges his deeds, and have issued the medal, and the National Archives have his award listed, the South Africans haven't a clue what to do. I'm working on it. Thanks to all for your interest, and advice. I'll keep you posted.
Trevor. Do you know the periods during which your father served in Italy with 6 SA Armd Div? Regards FdeP
