jedburgh

An update on my MM Grouping to Pte G W Byrne. I have very kindly been sent an article that not only shows an image of Byrne, but also explains more about him and how and where he came to be awarded his MM. He was the first man to enlist from Polebrook, joining on the 1st September 1914. I also have been advised that he was wounded at Boom Ravine on the 17th February 1917. Regards, Clive.

That makes perfect sense and is quite possible. I have done the same when attending Remembrance services for our local Burma Star Association, now sadly closed, and worn my late father's medals on my right breast in his honor and memory. Kind regards, Clive.

Many thanks Tony, great to see his name in the Gazette, I will do a little more digging myself. The last link I could not access, got onto the website but denied browsing, guess I will have to register to be able to do this. Kind regards, Clive.

Found a couple more items that belong to this Grouping. A spent .303 Cartridge, a Miniature Medal Ribbon Bar, a Brass Wounded Stripe and a single Identity Disc. Regards, Clive.

Many thanks for the information, great to see his Medal Index Card. I would like to know how and where he was awarded the MM, can you advise if it is possible to locate the Gazette? Although WW1 is not my main collecting area, I can not help but think of the terrible conditions in which these soldiers fought. When you see the film footage of trench warfare it amazes me how many did survive. I will try to find out more on the 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. Regards, Clive.

A few years ago the Jedburgh Reunion Committee, now no longer in existance, prepared a simple hand-out to give a general idea of what the Jedburghs were and what their function was. The following is the text: "In World War 11 the Jedburghs were a Special Force Unit of 300 volunteers recruited from the the armed forces of Britian, America and France with a small contingent from the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada. Their task was to parachute into enemy occupied territory in small mixed-nationality teams, to arm and train resistance fighters and to coordinate their activities with the overall strategy of the allied D-Day armies advancing out of the Normandy bridgehead ("Overlord") and the landings in the South of France ("Dragoon"). Milton Hall, near Peterborough, was their home base. There, in 1944, they underwent months of exhaustive training, covering all aspects of modern guerrilla warfare, ambushes, demolition, unarmed combat, silent killing, small arms, parachuting and the techniques of reception committee work for receiving additional supplies by air while operating behind enemy lines. The Operational Teams themselves, which were formed through a mixture of "official" nominations and individual choice, usually comprised either two British or two American Jedburghs plus one other from the intended country of operation. There were variiations on the theme, of course, but whatever the final composition, one member of every team was always a radio operator, profficient at high speed morse and cyphers, the peciliarities of shortwave radios, such as the "B2" and the "Jed-Set" and the intricacies of running repairs under promitave conditions. Between D-Day and V-E Day, Jedburgh Teams carried out 101 Operations in Europe; 93 with the Maquis in France in support of the allied landings and eight in the Netherlands, of which six were in connection with Operation "Market Garden" (Arnhem). Later the Jeds, as they liked to call themselves, did many similar operations with other allied Special Forces, such as the America OSS and the British Force 136 (SOE) in Norway, Italy, Burma, Malaya, Borneo, Indonesia, China and Indo-China. Jedburgh dead, as can be seen from the Memorial Tablet in the Sprite Chapel of Peterborough Cathedral numbered 37. Most were killed in action but some died of wounds and others of illness contracted on Operations in the jungles of South-East Asia. Seven were executed after capture. One French officer being beheaded and another being bayoneted to death". This is a fairly simple explaination, however covers the basics and can be expanded upon. I will attach an image of Milton Hall today, known as ME 65 during the war, taken from the air. Regards, Clive.

Thank you for your comments Mervyn & Dan, I posted this whilst not wearing my glasses, should have gone to Specsavers! I take your point about editing facilities and membership, something for me to consider. Hopefully I will receive some views and opinions about this Grouping in due course. Kind regards, Clive.

Not sure how to edit a posting made, just realized a spelling error, the recipients name is G W BYRNE. Apologies, Clive.

Image 6 - Final

Image 5

Image 4

Image 3

Image 2

An area outside my own experience and I would welcome comment and advice regarding this WW1 Military Medal Grouping. The Medals, Military Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, were awarded to a Private G W Byrne, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. The Military Medal award, date of Gazette, was 21st December 1916. The Medals are in good shape, however they have been sewn by threads to the Medal Ribbon Bar, in what looks to be reverse order, probably just to keep them together. I would like to know how he came to be awarded the MM, also his service and where he served in WW1, any advice and assistance is much appreciated. Regards, Clive. (having a problem loading images, will try some more later)

Pleased to contribute to your thread Michael. I will attach an image of Captain Victor Gough, designer of the Special Force Wing, and an image of his grave, not too clear though, in Germany. I will also attach an image of a SF Wing that belonged to another Jedburgh veteran friend of mine, he was an officer who led a mission to France, also in Burma with Force 136. The Wing is shown with his safe conduct pass for France and his 2nd and 3rd pattern Fighting Knives. Regards, Clive.