Trying to identify mystery badge found amongst WW2 medals

Discussion in 'WW2 Militaria' started by DawnMonks, Aug 7, 2013.

  1. DawnMonks

    DawnMonks Junior Member

    Hello all,

    Wondering if someone could help me identify this mystery bar/badge that was found amongst my grandfather's WW2 medals. It has an American look about it, but I've no idea where it came from, or what it was awarded for. You can find the story of what my grandfather got up to during WW2 here. I don't know whether that might shed some light on it...

    Many thanks, and looking forward to hearing any suggestions :)



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  2. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    Hi

    It may be a US unit citation , see - http://en.ww2awards.com/award/540
    They are not the same but same style?? Could be something to do with their help to US troops as mentioned in his story.

    regards

    Robert
     
  3. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    I cannot find anything much different to Roberts post, but I do believe that Robert is on the right track.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  4. Doc

    Doc Senior Member

    I don't know what it is, but I can tell you what it's not..... It is not any kind of official US military award or decoration. First, it appears enameled-- US awards such as unit citations are all ribbons, though some may have a metal frame. Second, the "unbalanced" appearance is definitely not US-- the vast majority of US ribbons are essentially "balanced", with one side the mirror image of the other. (Yes, there are occasionally changes, in which the interior color bands are not exactly the same from one side to the other, but the overall structure of the pattern is normally "mirrored".) I have collected US insignia for over 50 years, and this simply does not look like anything official.
     
  5. DawnMonks

    DawnMonks Junior Member

    Thanks guys.

    Someone had suggested to me the other day that it might be a US unit citation, but I must say that when I Googled them it didn't look quite the same. As you say, Doc, it's not "balanced" and enameled, not ribbons. I wonder what it could be; the stars do look very American. So is there any chance that it might have a military connection? Or maybe it's some sort of commemorative thing. It was in a box with nothing else but my grandfather's medals. Sadly it's too late to ask him about it as he passed away in December.
     
  6. Doc

    Doc Senior Member

    I have no real reason for saying it, but somehow it just appears French to me. Most of their awards are also "ribboned", but I think I have in the past seen something similar to this on a French uniform.

    You might want to post your inquiry on a military insignia website, rather than this general military history one. Try the Gentlemen's Military Interest Club (yes, ladies are also welcome) at: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?act=idx

    I suspect someone there will be able to help.

    Good luck. Doc
     
  7. DawnMonks

    DawnMonks Junior Member

    Thanks for that, Doc. I'll post it over there, as you suggest, and report back if anyone comes up with a plausible answer :)
     
  8. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Dawn

    Tried to contact you through your web site a couple of weeks ago ....... haven't heard a dickie bird since ...

    Cheers
     
  9. DawnMonks

    DawnMonks Junior Member

    Sorry, Tom. Did you fill in the contact form on my website? It hasn't registered on my database for some strange reason.

    I've messaged you my email address so that you can email me direct.
     
  10. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Dawn - have already responded

    Cheers
     

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