Pictures of medals at last!

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by bostontd5, Mar 9, 2013.

  1. bostontd5

    bostontd5 Junior Member

    Hello all,
    I have been waiting for months for pictures of these medals from my cousin; we got there in the end!
    They were awarded to my granddad Henry (Harry) Philip Strong, after trying to research his war years we have applied to the Mod for the records as everywhere we went after 1939 when he left the army for the first time draws a blank.
    We know he re-joined up in early 1940 and served till the end of war and looking at the medals he saw action in most places.
    Any comments would be most welcome!
    Thanks
    Mark
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    Impressive.
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Welcome to the forum.
    Do you know who he served with ?
     
  4. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Mark

    I would guess that the Italy Star plus the France & Germany Star indicates that his unit was pulled out of Italy to take part in the D-Day action or it's follow-up.

    As Gage put it, impressive !

    Ron
     
  5. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello Mark
    Thank you for posting the photo.
    You say you have applied for his army records, well it will all become clear which unit/s he served with when you receive them-I can honestly say that they are worth waiting for:).
    Have you any photos you can post which may give forum members clues to which unit he was in?

    Lesley
     
  6. bostontd5

    bostontd5 Junior Member

    This is a photo that was sent home in late 1943 as he came home on leave in late Jan/Feb 1944 as my aunty was born Oct 1944!
     

    Attached Files:

  7. bostontd5

    bostontd5 Junior Member

    Thanks for the comments everybody, we know he served with the Worcestershire Regt up till 1939 then he left, having spoken to the Regt museum (the staff there are really good) they found his demob letter from his CO saying good luck in his job at the Dunlop factory. All the family have said that he never worked in a Dunlop factory and his service number for up to 1939 finishes then.
    What has not helped was that he lied (not uncommon) about his age name and address when he joined up first time.
    This is where the records stop, my oldest uncle who dies a month ago told me a week before he died that my granddad served in the commando’s in Africa that was all he knew and that he was mentioned in dispatches. This we have looked into and did find a Harry Strong in the London Gazette records for a Harry Strong in the Sherwood foresters. Having spoken to the Sherwoods they don’t think it was my Grandad.
    So still all draws a blank!
     
  8. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    His medals don't include an MID oak leaf so he's probably not the Forresters man.

    Are you able to produce a higher resolution scan of his left sleeve, including the shoulder ? There is a formation sign there, I'm sure.
     
  9. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    Hello Mark
    Thank you for posting the photo.
    You say you have applied for his army records, well it will all become clear which unit/s he served with when you receive them-I can honestly say that they are worth waiting for:).

    Lesley
    Agree
    we thought we knew about the postings of my wife's father but could never figure out just when he joined.

    Requested his records in August 2012 told it could be a year (preference to living vets) .. package arrived early Feb ... and plenty of new information.


    Robin
     
  10. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Looking at those medals - of the Italy Star and F & G - he would have been in XXX corps OR V111 Armoured bde as the only two units to leave for D Day from the Mediterranean

    Cheers
     
  11. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Agree
    Requested his records in August 2012 told it could be a year (preference to living vets) .. package arrived early Feb ... and plenty of new information.
    Robin

    Are things running faster now? Applied for service records 31st January 2013, arrived 22nd February.
     
  12. bostontd5

    bostontd5 Junior Member

    Looking at those medals - of the Italy Star and F & G - he would have been in XXX corps OR V111 Armoured bde as the only two units to leave for D Day from the Mediterranean

    Cheers
    We know that my grandad was back in the UK early 1944 as were the xxx corps.
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Have you considered apply for a copy of his service records? They will have all the units he served with, where he was with them, when he had leave etc etc etc.
     
  14. bostontd5

    bostontd5 Junior Member

    Hi Drew,

    Yes my mother has now applied for the records and we wait to see what information is supplied which by the sounds it will be a full account.

    Just suppose having been looking for so long just be good to see how close i came to what he did to what i could put together. (keeps me off the streets)

    Mark
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Good stuff, hopfully they won't take too long.
     
  16. The Cooler King

    The Cooler King Elite Member

    I do not think that anyone could doubt that Harry did his bit looking at those ribbons.
     
  17. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Mark,

    Interesting that there is no 1st or 8th Army clasp with the Africa Star. Is there one? If not, we could be looking for a unit that was not designated as either...

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  18. Five-Five

    Five-Five Senior Member

    Welcome aboard, Mark. A lovely group of medals there, and an interesting story to them too.

    Hello Mark,

    Interesting that there is no 1st or 8th Army clasp with the Africa Star. Is there one? If not, we could be looking for a unit that was not designated as either...

    Best,

    Steve.

    If there isn't a clasp, then I can't help wondering about 231 Inf Bde; this trait is exhibited by units of 231 Inf Bde (2nd Devons, 1st Hamps, 1st Dorsets) as their garrisoning of Malta came under neither 8th or 1st Army.

    Indeed, the medal group Mark has posted is typical of (though not exclusive to) men of 231 Inf Bde, the Defence Medal being qualified for due to service on Malta from 1939 through to 3rd March 1943.

    Looking at the photo of late 1943, there certainly is a formation sign there, though it is difficult to see. It would appear that 3 AoS strips are being displayed; this is consistent with 231 Inf Bde as they formed the Junior Bde of 50 Div throughout their time with the Div. The coloured flashes on the shoulder straps are very interesting - these are often seen worn by Bns of The Hampshire Regt (in addition to many other units) though I am not aware of such flashes being worn by 1st Hamps.

    I cannot be certain at this stage without a little further digging, but I shall be following this thread with great interest!

    All the best,
    Five-Five
     
  19. jimmyb49

    jimmyb49 Junior Member

    HI BOSTONTD5
    I am going to enquire with the M.O.D about my late father in laws italy medal on youre photo whitch medal is the Italy Star i also have the forms to apply for his war records he served in the R.A.F ground crew or engineers im not sure
    JB
     
  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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