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I have found some information about Albert Smith on www.firsttankcrews.com

it has interesting information and some photos, it might help others that are looking for WW1 and 2 tank crews.

Thanks again, mary x

Dea and Potty, Thanks for all the information and links and Thank you both for your trouble, it's fabulous to know the tale about Albert is true.
I'll copy all the info and pass it on to my cousins so we can all include it in our trees.

Thank you again ,SO much .

mary x

Still googling, came up with this - doesn't mention Albert but is probably when he won his medal:

http://www.4and7royaltankregiment.com/1916-1918.html

Google the 4th Battalion and on this site

http://www.ask.com/wiki/4th_Royal_Tank_Regiment?o=2802&qsrc=999&ad=doubleDown&an=apn&ap=ask.com
came up with a previous name for it:

Motor Machine Gun Service,

which would tie up with the initials (MMGS) on Albert's service record.

I have had a look on the NA at the the War diaries and there doesn't seem to be one for the 4th Battalion, Tank Corps.

I sent her a copy of the entry in the Gazette Potty - she hasn't opened it yet but I think she will probably come back on here when she does.

Dea Xxx

P.S. - I think I saw something about 'war diaries' somewhere in my search, probably in the Manchester Guardian ? - It didn't seem to say very much but I will go back and take another look.

Dea Xxx

Dea, I think it would be mentioned in the Regiment's War diaries, as I suggested above. Wonder if Mary will come back to this thread?

Thank you both <3

Wish I could have found an article though saying what he did to earn this :-(

Dea Xxx

Well done Dea, from me too!

Well done Dea!!! I'm just glad I had someone to scab off with mine :-)

Got it !!!!! :-D

It is in the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 9th December, 1916 on page 12052 !!

I will try to send you a copy attached to a pm Mary.

Dea Xxx

I had a 'brainwave' - The Manchester Guardian ! :-)

It is much easier to search than the Gazette where I could find nothing !

Not much luck though :-(

I did find the record of Sgnt A Smith getting his medal but this would be the one mentioned above who later died in 1917. Service No 1422.

I will keep looking,

Dea x

Mary, this thread is about regimental War Diaries and gives a link to the National Archives. You might find something there.

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/military_chat/thread/1332400

You will need his Regiment and I am finding that a bit difficult to work out! On one page is says HSMC and on a coupl of others, Tank Corps, 4th battalion Tanks

Hi Potty, i don;t have a sub, thanks for the tips x

Mary, Albert's service record is on Ancestry. If you don't have a sub you could take out a free trial - just remember to cancel it before the free period is up. Or, possibly Ancestry will make the records available free in November, around Remembrance Day.

My grandfather was awarded the MM...

This from my tree

An interesting point about the medal card is that it records that his British Medal and Victory Medal were returned to the issuing office probably because they had been wrongly engraved. Another interesting item missing from the medal cards is that Charles was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. His award was announced in the London Gazette in 1916 but unfortunately the citation was not printed.
The award meant that Charles was entitled to use the letters MM after his name.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 18 JUNE, 1917.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the under mentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men:
……….. 32198 Gnr. C. A. Cording, R.F.A………

So Dea is correct in that it IS the place to search....I admit I "scabbed" this info and didn't find it myself....

Dea, Thank you, i received info about Albert ( my Mums Uncle) from someone else, but wanted to check it was true (!!!) only realised after i asked that there was a Military section now,

Potty, Thank You for your help, i havent seen anyof Alberts records, it was just the info i was given by a 3rd party, but have learned from these boards to double check :-D

Well Potty - I do always have trouble searching for things in the Gazette - It is not easy !!

I spent about 45 minutes and found nothing so gave up and went to do some shopping.

I now have to pick up grandchildren from school so if it has not been found, I will try again later. :-(

Dea Xxx

It's something I have noticed before with the Service and Pension records. I have tried to search the Gazette but haven't had much luck. Hope you have better!

Well spotted Potty - I never thought to read his records backwards ;-) :-D :-D

Looks like he did get the Military Medal then !!

It gives a date of 9th December 1916 for this so I will go and have another look at the Gazette.

Dea x