Spero Meant to post this picture of "Busty" Thomas while he was a Beefeater at the Tower. I think you can just spot the Bronze Star as his first medal Ron
Ron, An excellent Photograph, although when I try to enlarge it it soon loses clarity and I cannot make out the medal. I am wearing my reading lasses, honest. Regards Tom
A couple of direct scans from a Bronze Star I have in my own collection,it might help with the naming style? Verrieres
Tom Apologies for the poor quality. The original was a picture postcard that I bought from a kiosk in Westminster and that showed a group of beefeaters from which I cut out "Busty" himself, therefore it was very small in the first place Ron
Guys I am still on the trail of this. Currently live in the US and have discovered there is no official list of recipients so come to a bit of a halt there. have also learned that recipients were instructed to get the medal engraved themselves. Is this correct - have any of you heard anything similar? Many thanks. Spero
Drew, The Bronze star is given for two different reasons: "Meritorious service in Wartime", and "Valorious service in wartime". The "V" symbolizes that this one was earned for valor (i.e. actual heroism). Spero, most US medals are not engraved by the government initially. When awarded, most are unengraved. This is because the stocks of medals are kept at the unit level, and only the paperwork actually goes through channels. When the paperwork is received, then the unit clerk gets one out of the stockpile and an actual award is made to the soldier. The government will then engrave the medals at government expense if you send them back the medals and wait for it to be done. Most people don't bother, and either leave them blank or have them engraved privately. Mine are all still blank. Doc
Tom Apologies for the poor quality. The original was a picture postcard that I bought from a kiosk in Westminster and that showed a group of beefeaters from which I cut out "Busty" himself, therefore it was very small in the first place Ron No need for apologies Ron, I realised the problem is with the original picture. The photograph though, still looks good. Regards Tom
Drew, The Bronze star is given for two different reasons: "Meritorious service in Wartime", and "Valorious service in wartime". The "V" symbolizes that this one was earned for valor (i.e. actual heroism). Spero, most US medals are not engraved by the government initially. When awarded, most are unengraved. This is because the stocks of medals are kept at the unit level, and only the paperwork actually goes through channels. When the paperwork is received, then the unit clerk gets one out of the stockpile and an actual award is made to the soldier. The government will then engrave the medals at government expense if you send them back the medals and wait for it to be done. Most people don't bother, and either leave them blank or have them engraved privately. Mine are all still blank. Doc Cheers for that Doc and dare I ask what you have? Regards Andy
Guys Thanks so much for all the info here. I think as I don't have the V, I think that my grandfather was awarded it for meritorious service - which leads me to this section of his service history: Permanently attached to HQ Indian Division to be Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (Malaria) 10 Indian Division with rank of Lt Colonel - 5.12.44 There was a great story in the Daily Telegraph that i found - can't find the link at the moment - that explained the Allies were looking into the 'germ warfare' the germans had created using mosquitoes to spread malaria in the lowlands around Rome prior to to the actual invasion. Anybody know anything about this at all. As always my thanks for all your help, suggestions and pictures. Spero
