Help With Relatives Service Please - WAAF

Hello, I was recently lucky enough to purchase some medals to a distant relative.

However, I'm a little confused for the following reasons: The RAF issue box is addressed to Mrs C D Wynd (Caroline Doris Wynd née Larkin) it also has the little tape inside with a x marked on defence mrdal, war medal and mid emblem, all items present.

Now Caroline (Carrie) married a Mr Wynd I believe in 1945. They both served in some capacity during WW2. Now are the medals hers? and she was mentioned in despatches? Or were they her husband's medals sent to her?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

James

 

Hi,

Forum member JohnG505 may be able to find the medal application(s) on Forces War Records - although I’m doubtful if they both served RAF - but it may not cover the MID.

Medals would only be sent for her husband if had died (likely in the early post war years?) - have you researched his death?

You’d have to look on the London Gazette for the award of the MID - under both the married and maiden surnames.

Forum member Ross RAFCommands may be able to assist with advice on how to obtain her RAF service record or how to interpret it if you have already received it.

Steve

 

Many thanks Steve,

I have not applied for any service record as yet.

 

The genealogy site I use has a match for a Carrie Doris Wynd, b. 4/3/1914 @ Slough and died there in March 1998.

 

Hi davidbfpo,

The medal box is addressed to:

Mrs C D Wynd
42 Wayford Street
Battersea
London
Sw11

I think you are right that she was born 1914. Does that site have her down as being born Caroline Doris Wynd? Or that's her surname on death?

Many thanks

 

Caroline certainly served, service no:897042 but can't find any thing on a MiD award.

 

That's brilliant thankyou JohnG505, much appreciated.

Well the tape bit in the box has x next to mid emblem and there's a mid emblem in the box itself. Could they have mad a mistake?

 

Surname at time of passing.

I did search for awhile, using her names plus Slough and came up with nowt. Did not try for Battersea / London.

Now some research pointers.

A pre-war address can sometimes help identify the subject from genealogy sites for example. Their parents details and any marriage – as some certificates show the subject’s service number. A marriage cert. can be ordered online from https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

Her name and number (897402) have not appeared here before.

We always recommend applying for the subject's full service record. Yes, it may take a year to arrive - either from the MoD or National Archives (TNA). It is not available online and is the definitive record. There is nothing you can do about the wait. I think you have enough to satisfy TNA or MoD.

If you search online with his unit(s) if known or later, so for example: "XXth Anti-Tank Regiment" site:ww2talk.com that may identify threads mentioning them, at a glance without adding much. If you drop the 'th' more may be found.

Searching the National Archives for the subject or unit(s) can identify those who were awarded honours / medals and the existence of War Diaries – which rarely mention individuals soldiers. They do give context and details of activity.

 

Thankyou davidbfpo, I will defo try and apply for her service record.

 

I've found three Wynd's, who were all awarded a MiD.

 

Could it be in her maiden name Larkin? As she was definitely Larkin early years of the war. I do not think she was married until 1945?

 

Sorry, can't find anything under the name Larkin.

Looks like she married a Donald L Wynd in Jun 1945 and none of the Wynds listed above are Donald L.

Only way to answer the MiD question would be to apply for her service record.

 

Oh well I appreciate you looking for me. It must be a mistake then?

 

Hi,

Perhaps a bit too premature to conclude it’s a mistake.

Best wait until you have sight of the service record as the MID may be recorded there. At the very least It should confirm her medal entitlement. Defence & War Medal is the standard entitlement for someone who didn’t leave UK.

If that’s a dead end you may want to look for the Wynd/Larkin marriage certificate and research the genealogy of “Mr Wynd”. That may disclose WW2 service that you can research further to see if the MID is his award.

Research is more of a marathon than a sprint.

Steve

 

Thankyou Steve, I shall do as you have kindly suggested.

I very much appreciate all of your kind help

 

Hi,

Free BMD gives the death registration for a Donald L Wynd in the Eton registration district in the March quarter 1968 - so registered between 1/1/68 & 31/3/68.

You will need these details if/when you decide to request a search for his service file.

Steve

 

Thankyou Tullybrone, I'm definitely going to try and apply for her records.

 

Hello Gents,

The plot thickens so to speak!!

Well here is a picture of the medals. Now I believe they are all correct? Now as you will see the MID appears to be for Mr D Wynd and it has a number on the box. Now this number does belong to a Wynd who was MID (many thanks JohnG505. But as you will see wrong initial?

Could they have gotten his initials wrong on the LG?

Any help much appreciated

 

Hi,

Good to see the medals & boxes.

I think you need to search LG for Wynd MID rather than rely on the details provided on another site (presume FWR).

Basic rule of research is to search for the primary source of information rather than rely on a possibly inaccurate secondary source.

Steve

EDIT TO ADD

MID should be shown in his RAF service record.

 

Thankyou Steve I appreciate it, I shall start looking