Hi everyone, I'm currently looking at my grandfathers service records from his time in the army during WW2. He was in the first seaforth highlanders, assigned to 23rd Indian Division and spent most of his time in Burma. He was mentioned in despatches, which appeared in the gazette on 5 April 1945. My search around him is based on this mention - I am trying to find out more about this mention. I sent off for his army records, which came back with very little information. One thing did jump out at me though - a reference to being awarded the 1939/43 star. In my research, I found out that the star was awarded for various reasons, including a mention in despatches (I may be wrong - wikipedia has been my friend during this research!!). His military file is, as I say, fairly scant but the bit that refers to this media states "Awarded 1939/43 star under provisions of IAO 13/5/44" My question to you is simple - what does this mean? There is no other reference to any of his other medals in his record, just this one. And I am struggling to work out what IAO means (it could be IAD, not sure - the handwriting isn't the clearest). Could this be when whatever he was MiD occurred? If not, do you have any idea of how I could find out more information on what happened to merit this accolade? I am aware that I may never find out and that I could be flogging a dead horse, but I'm still curious as to his exploits during WW2 regardless. Thanks in advance PS I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum. If it is, please can you direct me to the correct place.
Indian Army Order would fit, i.e. the piece of paper that authorised or set out the conditions for the award.
Would the inclusion of this award on his service record potentially be a reference to the MiD do you think? I do agree re Indian Army Order. I thought this after I posted but glad I have someone else who agrees!
