Genealogy Chat

Could anyone point me in the right direction to find out 1st world war records for a man who survived and was awarded a military medal? In paricular where I would find out what he was awarded the medal for. Websites, addresses, phone numbers, anything would be great. Thanks in anticipation!

Try www.nationalarchives.gov.uk, you can download medal cards for WW1 from there, they cost £3.50 From this you will be able to identify the regiment that he served in, you will then be able to locate his service record if it still exists in the burnt series (less than a 1/3 still exist as they were destroyed by fire due to a bomb in 1940) You can also check the pension files in WO364. The service files are all held by the national archives in Kew.

Dear Helen If you google military medal winners you get a site called 1914-1918 which has a list of winners. Best of luck with your search Maria

winners, maria?

Definitely winners - reading the stories of bravery and courage in the worst of circumstances and the triumph of the human spirit over evil - definitely winners!! Also I used winners in the sense of someone being awarded / receiving something. Maria

The website 1914-1918 does not hold lists of the millions of medals awarded in WW1. However, www(.)1914-1918(.)net does have an excellent step by step guide on interpreting medal cards and a section on the different campaign medal that were awarded. It also has an excellent forum, and lots of other guides.

Have just checked website again and it does have a list of Albert medal recipients - both multiple and single awards - full website reference is www(.)1914-1918(.)net/albert_medal(.)htm - remove brackets. There's also a website for the George Cross - www(.)gc-database(.)co(.)uk - remove brackets Best wishes Maria

The George Cross was institued in 1940 by King George VI

Sorry Willow- trying to be helpful and getting carried away!! Good job you're around to keep us on our toes!! Best wishes Maria

Have a look at the London Gazette site. There MIGHT be a citation on there (all WW1 issues are searchable)

Thanks everyone for your hints and tips. Anything else anyone can think of please add as I'll keep checking. I'll follow up these leads and again, Many thanks

Not for medals but may be really jammy and find a photo! www(.)ww1photos(.)com Debby

...all Military Medals awarded to recipients for Great Britain and the Commonwealth or as was The Empire are Gazetted, they take some trawling to find, but worthwhile. Second only in ranks awards for such deeds to The Victoria Cross the merit is high in valour. All were named and should be inscribed on the the award. The same Medal was given by the British for acts of outstanding courage or Bravery in the Field to Belgian and French soldiers as was the Croix du Guerre, by both countries, in reciprocal situations, but, these were unnamed on the medal disc rim. As for the comment I noted 'winners'? Why not? This was the term denoted for these who gave more than those already brave enough to serve in such circumstances. 'Lest we forget' regards, englishbob, proud Grandson of Gnr.40246 C.R.Cooke MM.Tank Corps

I dont see that my great grandmother would agree with the term winner, nor would my nan who never knew her dad...I have seen his letters home some of which I expect he wrote in the trenches as he describes the terrible conditions that they are in and how he misses his wife and family longs to come home. They make me cry everytime I read them. He never came home.

....unfortunately the term winner will always be contentious. I agree with your sentiment, as would most sensible people. I have spent years reading and researching the First world conflict. The bravery of the the participents, whether forced, volountary or co-erced cannot be demeaned by historical rhetoric, regardless of the circumstances they left their Wives, girlfriends or children. They served, they were brave, they were winners. Bob