Gulf War Medal (1990-91) Abbreviations Deciphering

[John F.]

Hello,

I recently purchase a named British Gulf War Medal (1990-91) and I need help deciphering the abbreviations that are engraved along the edge. I wasn’t able to get a good picture of it but it reads - SG G.G. Martin SP. MIL. CHR. 100. I’m smart enough to pick out the person's name (G.G. Martin) but what are the other abbreviations "SG" & "SP. MIL. CHR. 100" represent ?

Thanks,

John

[Mervyn Mitton]

John - I'm sorry no-one has picked-up on your query, hopefully someone will do so in the near future. I suspect SG could be Scots Guards - but, it needs someone with a modern knowledge - I'm well lodged in the past....

[Graham Stewart]

Any medals awarded to British Forces personnel are preceded by their number, followed by name and unit. Which leads me to say that in all honesty I haven't a clue as to what he belong too. I did have a civilian friend of mine who worked for GCHQ, who was awarded a campaign medal for the last Gulf War, due to the amount of time he spent there in the Green Zone.

Wonder if 'SG' stands for Security Guard??

Edited June 28, 2011 by Graham Stewart

[censlenov]

This is a very nice gulf medal. It appears to be named to a member of the Romanian military hospital. If your looking to do some swapping I'd be interested. Sergeant G G Martin Spital Militar Campanie 100

cheers

Chris

[John F.]

Hello Gents,

Thanks for the replies. I was finally able to get a pics of the naming. Hope it helps.

Best,

John

[John F.]

It appears to be named to a member of the Romanian military hospital. If your looking to do some swapping I'd be interested. Sergeant G G Martin Spital Militar Campanie 100

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the reply and answer! Wow, that's interesting a "member of the Romanian military hospital". Weren't the Romanians still the "bad guys" then? Thanks for the offer but I think I will hold onto this for awhile.

Best,

John

Edited June 29, 2011 by John F.

[Graham Stewart]

This is a very nice gulf medal. It appears to be named to a member of the Romanian military hospital. If your looking to do some swapping I'd be interested. Sergeant G G Martin Spital Militar Campanie 100

cheers

Chris

Have tried to find any information regarding this unti in the Gulf War and have drawn a blank to-date. The name G.G.Martin has a very "English" rather than Romanian ring to it and would have thought the Medal Office would have stuck to known abreviations and stamped Sgt G.G. Martin, Sp. Mil. Coy. 100

[John F.]

Have tried to find any information regarding this unti in the Gulf War and have drawn a blank to-date. The name G.G.Martin has a very "English" rather than Romanian ring to it and would have thought the Medal Office would have stuck to known abreviations and stamped Sgt G.G. Martin, Sp. Mil. Coy. 100

I was given this explanation of the abbreviations from a Mr. Marc Sherriff on the WAF British Sub-Forum which makes a bit more sence.

SG = Seaman Grade which is a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Rate

SP MIL CHR = Special Military Charter

100 = MoD reference ie Charter number

This medal belonged to a Seaman Grade in the RFA who probably was on a supply ship taken up for the Gulf War and manned by RFA & Merchant Navy crew.

Edited June 29, 2011 by John F.

[censlenov]

I had thought originally that it was a Special Military Charter but a thread at the British Medal Forum lead me to believe that it reffered to the Romanian military hospital as another example with this naming (but to a different recipeint) turned up. I highly recommend you visit the thread below.

http://www.britishmedalforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=52805&hilit=romanian+gulf+medal

Cheers

Chris

[Graham Stewart]

Excellent work - as I had a gut feeling this was British rather than Romanian recipient. As those who have served in the UK forces in recent years know, we're so short of specialised ships that the MOD has had to go and hire vessels from shipping companies, supplemented with "volunteer" crews. I think I may be right in saying that we had as many hired vessels for the Falklands War as we had RN/RFA ships.

[ctcripps]

Just been reading this thread and I think I can help.

Im charles cripps I was in 22 regt royal artillery as a gunner, as our regt had just got back from a 6 month tour in Cyprus we did not get picked to provide rapier SAM support in the conflict. However a memo came to the CO asking for each Battery to put forward 2 names who would volunteer and have training in the then new phtarmigan secure network radio. I volunteered....from the 8 names i was luckily chosen.

I made my way out to al jubal in Saudi to join what was named the British Liaison team, a small select team lead by a Squadron leader flemming.

The team was I guess 20 strong , made from elements from all areas of our military. Providing a broad knowledge of working practices and experience thus enabling us to help resolve problems on the battlefield.

We were split into small sub units, the one I was in was , navy,infantry,tanky,artillery.

As an additional role as the air campaign was going well and the forces were amassing on the Saudi oilfields preparing for the land assault we were assigned to work along side the Romanian field hospital and there parachute Romanian protection. As they were poorly prepared for nuclear biological and chemical attack are squadron leader wangled loads of British kit , suits boots gas masks etc for them all, and we helped train them to use it.

For are work in the gulf war and with the Romanians we were all later to receive a official teleprinter confirming we had received a mention in dispatches from the romanian government.

I would think the medal is related to someone within the liaison team, I will check my old paperwork for names if you would like me to dig further?

It is stated that this was the 1st award issued from an ex iron curtain country to a NATO soldier since the falling of the curtain.