I've got my Cousin on the case now. Have found out that he has Vic's Miniature medals in his loft so he's going to find them at the weekend and photo them for me. I will post better pictures of them once I have the new Pics. Thanks again.
Ok, I have attached some photos of Vic's Miniatures with some close ups as well. I can identify the 1939-45 Star, France/Germany Star and the 1939-1945 War Medal with Normandy Clasp. Would be very grateful if anyone can identify an others for me. Many thanks.
Keith, The three campaign medals situated in the centre are left to right - 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal 1939-1945 The two commemorative medals at the bottom to the left and right sides respectively are the Normandy Campaign Medal (with Normandy clasp) and the National Service Medal http://www.awardmedals.com/plain-blue-medal-case-p-809.html http://www.awardmedals.com/national-service-medal-p-794.html?cPath=282_21_33 I'm completely stumped by the top rack ... ? Regards ...
Thanks Cee, I'm also stumped. Been to Aldershot Military Museum today and have left them with copies of the medals. All the searching online and from books has produced a complete blank. Also have found out today that Vic was probably based in a town called Hollywood in Northern Ireland (1947), which is close to Belfast. Will be checking up on the Devons history around here as well.
In the top grouping the medal third from right is very similar the Polish Cross of Valour. http://www.medal-medaille.com/cross-valour-krzy380-walecznych-government-exile-issue-post-world-p-9816.html Later ... The medal in the middle of the top grouping (4th right) is the Polish Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords. http://home.golden.net/~medals/kz.html
What can I say Cee, looks like you are looking under lots of stones.... Poland... I have to find out where he was then from 1944-45, didn't think the Devon's were in Poland, unless anyone knows different. I so want his records to arrive now. I am in Kew end of next week looking at various records. Are the staff there helpful as its my first visit and I think I am going to need some pointers.
Keith, I've never been myself. There are a few tip thread that may help: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/11433-national-archives-kew-tips/ http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/11116-a-guide-to-finding-war-diaries-at-the-national-archives-kew/ As for the medals I'm not sure if the others in the top rack are Polish in origin, but it seems to be pointing that way. Regards ...
Thanks Cee. Completely took it for granted that my Laptop would not be welcomed. Great to hear its allowed. As for Vic's medals, not sure about the Polish link at all, they look very much as the ones you have found but I've never had any info about any polish exploits especially if it involved awards for gallantry. If they were his why wasn't he wearing the full size ones on his Blazer and if they weren't awarded to him why did he have them mounted with the others in his Living Room. Very confused now but still very excited about what's around the corner.
Keith, it is curious ... ? I came across the medal extreme right in a collection shown in a War Relics thread devoted to Polish displays. No luck so far with the others. If no one here knows more and you want to dig deeper perhaps submitting them to a war medals forum may help? http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/polish-armed-forces-west-polskie-si-y-zbrojne-na-zachodzie-1939-1947/lets-see-your-polish-militaria-display-5402-35/
Thanks Cee. It seems that the Medals are following a Polish trend. Still have no idea about this. I work with an ex Soldier who told me today that troops if awarded Medals from another country were not allowed to wear them on parade. Perhaps this may explain why Vic was only wearing the four British ones. I am still very concerned as to how these other Medals are in his framed medal display as nobody has the slightest idea about them. The Medals must have been displayed in his living room for over 25 years and we don't have a clue......
Keith, You have a little mystery on your hands. I don't really want to speculate not knowing enough at this time, and who knows Vic may have had a perfectly valid reason for including them in the display ... ?
Had a nice surprise today. My cousin had posted me another picture of Vic's Medals. This photo was taken when the medals were in his house. He has the larger set as well as his miniatures of the foreign set. I will try to track down the larger set to see if there is any more info on them. I am led to believe that sometimes there is wording around the outside edge of the medal.
Well that's interesting Keith. I'm curious to know what the inscription says on the middle foreign set.
The closest link I can find for any link to Poland and the Devons so far is that during the "Varsity" ops, I believe the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade were involved. could the medals be linked to this. I have been trying to identify other Devonshire Regiment Soldiers on the web to see if I could find their medals awarded and try to link them with Vic's service dates but nothing doing so far. Could the two medals identified so far be the Polish equivalent of the American Purple Heart being that Vic was wounded. :mellow:
Keith, As far as I'm aware the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade was not involved in Operation Varsity. I'm not sure what they were doing between Arnhem and war's end. After the war according to ParaData they were "attached to the Polish 1st Armoured division and undertook occupation duties in northern Germany until 30 June 1947 when the unit was disbanded. Most of the Polish soldiers remained in exile in England". I can't say I know a lot about Polish medals. The Cross of Valour was awarded for "deeds of valor and courage on the field of battle" and only in exceptional cases was it awarded to allied soldiers and civilians. It's equivalent to the American Silver Star. The various types of The Cross of Merit with Swords were given for "deeds of bravery and valor not connected with direct fight, as well as for merit rendered in perilous circumstances". http://www.medals.pl/pl/pl4a2.htm#cva http://www.medals.pl/pl/pl4a2.htm#cme Hopefully the inscription in the frame of the foreign medals will provide a clue, that is if it survived the years. Later ...
Hi Cee, Thank you once more for your time taken up looking for clues to help me in my search for more information regarding Vic's Medals. I have finally tracked down the actual full size medals to another cousin. We are going to meet up soon so I can view the medals and any info attached to them. I have spent most of the afternoon in Aldershot library looking at countless Medal books with no luck at all in any further identification of the medals in my photo. Once I have any more news or photos I will share it with the forum. Thank you once again for your help.
Think I have found another medal, pos French origin from the wording. "Union Nationalle des combattants"
Good find Keith ... Perhaps exploring French medals may offer a few more clues? I noticed there are actually 8 medals in the full-sized foreign display with the one second left not having a miniature equivalent. It's hard to make out buried behind the others. Later ...
Have now been contacted by my Cousin who has given me more details about some of the Medals. One of them is the Belgian Croix de la Victoire. Another is the European Cross (with Blue Ribbon) I'm hoping to visit soon for a natter and exchange of information and stories.
Keith, That's quite an assortment of medals. I've pretty well gone bug-eyed trying to sleuth them out ... . I look forward to what else may turn up. Regards ...
