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    jeffskea

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    Everything posted by jeffskea

    1. Hello, I have been trying to research a Greek ribbon bar, and have a few questions regarding the Orders: Do crossed swords on Greek Orders indicate all military awards or do they only indicate that the award was made during wartime or for a specific act in combat? In other words could a Greek military officer receive an Order without swords, during peacetime perhaps? Also with orders, were recipients required to wear all levels of the same order they received on their ribbon bars? I appreciate any assistance and will post the bar when I receive it. Jeff
    2. Hello, I have been working on attributing this nice set of miniatures - my best candidate so far is Major John Aubrey Smith, Royal Marines who served from 1943-73 - MID 40 Cdo Italy 1944 for the Garigliano River Crossing as 6 PL Comd P Troop, MID 42 Cdo Malaya 1950, entitled to all four clasps on the General Service Medals. DM likely for service in India with 44 Cdo at the end of the War. To cancel out any other potential recipients I've been going through the London Gazette entries for MIDs for Suez and Malaya - I believe I've found all the RM recipients and have ruled all others out. My only trouble right now is trying to find a list of Malaya RN MID recipients - for some reason having difficulty with the LG search. The fact that Major Aubrey Smith fits the entitlement seems very promising and I would almost venture to say the group may be unique - but would still like to rule out all potential recipients, any input always appreciated. Jeff
    3. Have received the AIR 2/8769 files, the correspondence contained in them is quite interesting with tid bits of contemporary information on the rules and regulations regarding foreign awards of the time. For example, two RAF officers who were recommended for the Legion of Honour had their awards deferred on request of the British authorities as they held positions as liaison officers with the French, and as they were appointed to those roles it was not considered "adequate grounds for the bestowal of awards." Other rules included avoiding the award of a British and foreign decoration for the same service, no posthumous awards, and no more than three foreign decorations to one person (I've also read 4 was the limit). Jeff
    4. I have ordered another set of files AIR 2/8769, looking forward to searching through them in the next week or two. Jeff
    5. Hello Herman, Thank you for your continued interest - I have not given up by any means but unfortunately have made little progress in my research in the last year simply due to a busy life at home and work. My biggest lead and resource remains the AIR 2 files at the NA, the only road blocks holding me back at the moment are time and money to dedicate to the project - perhaps a week trip to the UK and NA would be more affordable in the long run! As of right now I have submitted a request to the RAF Museum in London requesting any information or portraits of the list of RAF officers holding both the OBE and Bronze Star, hopefully they may be able to assist. Again I appreciate the nudge and will keep digging away for more info and try to provide more updates! Jeff
    6. Thanks Paul, I am very pleased with the set and kind thanks to Ferdinand for assisting with the research and translation! I am happy to report the double Valours are to the same recipient - Guards Sergeant Pyotr Vasilyevich Nikolayevsky from Ukraine with the following two citations: The Medal for Courage to: 8. Junior Sergeant Pyotr Vasilyevich Nikolayevsky, mortar layer in the 2nd Mortar Company, for the fact that he on April 30, 1945, during the fighting for the village of Halbe, killed a German heavy machine-gun crew with mortar fire. Born in 1925; Ukrainian; not a party member; drafted on April 10, 1944 by the Military Commissariat of the Ruzhin Raion, Zhitomir Oblast. At the front since July 1944, serving on the 1st Ukrainian Front. He has not been wounded or decorated. The Medal for Courage to: 11. Guards Sergeant Pyotr Vasilyevich Nikolayevsky, squad leader in the 2ndSubmachine-Gun Company, for the fact that he on February 24, 1945, during the fighting on the Neisse River, covered the rifle units and repelled an enemy counterattack. While serving as a mortar team leader, he aimed his mortar accurately, suppressed 2 enemy firing positions, and killed more than 10 Hitlerites with his submachine gun. He saw frontline service from December 1944 onward and was slightly wounded three times. Born in 1925; Ukrainian; not a party member; drafted on April 10, 1944 by the Military Commissariat of the Ruzhin Raion, Zhitomir Oblast. At the front since July 1944, serving on the 1st Ukrainian Front. He has not been wounded or decorated. Interesting to note on his record of awards it does not indicate the Liberation of Prague as of May 1947 but does include his Capture of Berlin and Victory Over Germany. Very pleased with it overall. Jeff
    7. Good day, I recently purchased a nice worn looking double Valor grouping with the following serial numbers: 2921984 and 3221507 which from my understanding appear to have been awarded in early and late 1945 respectively, please correct me if I am off. Interesting to note is the Capture of Berlin has a Military Merit Medal (un-numbered) attached to the ribbon, I wonder the circumstances in which that was mounted. The group appears nicely worn and authentic though I do not have it yet in my possession. Has anyone encountered an award on a campaign ribbon before? Does that make the group more suspect or perhaps just an interesting history? Soviet awards are not my main focus but I do find them intriguing, my other two sets previously posted include substantial documentation which I prefer and they also all seem to have a connection with the Liberation of Prague. As always I welcome any further information or thoughts. Jeff
    8. No luck with the 1958 edition of the Aeroplane Directory but a great resource for biographical details of anyone associated with British aviation.
    9. A small update to this topic - I've discovered yet another resource which may prove very helpful in this search - The Aeroplane Directory of British Aviation - formerly Who's Who in British Aviation - numerous bios each year including lists of foreign decorations received. I have ordered a copy for 1958 and will see from there. - Rest in Peace Mervyn - your personal encouragement on this forum was, and continues to be, an inspiration to me. Jeff
    10. Hi Bob, Very nice set, have you had a chance to browse for the recommendations for the Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre, and Bronze Star Medal? As he was Army these should all be accessible online at the National Archives under: WO 373/147-148-149 (Foreign Awards to British: USA) WO 373/185 (Foreign Awards to British: France) I believe there is a small fee to download the individual recommendation/citation but you can download all of the above files entirely for free as well. Interesting to note the two CdeG's, incorrect to wear by the regulations but understandable that he chose to wear both - the CdeG with Palme (Highest grade - Army level award) was automatically given alongside the LdeH for operational service (both counting as a single award) and the CdeG with Bronze Star (Lowest grade - Regt/Brigade level) was likely awarded on a separate occasion. Had he been a French officer he would have likely only received the Star to go on the ribbon but for whatever reason he received the full medal and chose to wear it as such. Regardless both French and Allied would normally wear the two devices on the one medal - a small matter in the grand scheme no doubt. Anyhow four decorations for service in NW Europe is impressive. Jeff
    11. Hi Herman, I am still actively searching although have not been able to go through any more AIR 2 files recently as it is just a bit too costly at the moment. Just had a thought if I could access the individual recommendatons for the Bronze Star Medals for the above RAF recipients and discard ones awarded in operational theatres I may be able to narrow down further we'll see.. Jeff
    12. Just for fun I took a look at this interesting set again and thought I'd give it a go trying to narrow it down or at least see if it was indeed plausible. I am quite surprised in what I've found so far.. The NGSM with Cyprus clasp is certainly the odd medal of the group but it made me think Royal Marines...so back to the London Gazette to find RM DSM recipients - not many in there so far but after a considerable amount of searching I came to a Po.17778 Marine (Acting Sergeant) Alfred Frederick Charlton, RM, Pre-Oct 1925 Service Number, so far so good..now to the National Archives Born 1896, Enlisted 9th Sept 1914 - entitled to 1914-15 Star, BWM, Victory Remained in the RM, received LS&GC 1929..too bad there -I was initially excited as the RM Medal Roll 1914-19 indicated he was discharged to civilian life and a newspaper article in 1943 reported he had served only 21 years up to that point indicating he rejoined later and making the GVIR fit - but the NA has his service details right up to WW2 and details continuous service between Wars- so GVIR LS&GC doesn't fit unfortunately however still plausible for other servicemen at the time.. Then for the DSM I found LG 18 Dec 1942.. "For courage and determination while serving in defensively equipped merchant ships [DEMS]"...seems quite plausible...but doesn't indicate where it was awarded.. After some internet searching, a website quoting a book called "In Peril on the Sea" by David Masters indicates Charlton received his DSM while serving aboard the SS Anglo Canadian which was attacked by Japanese aircraft in the Bay of Bengal Apr 1942 (Burma Clasp - ship movement list doesn't appear to show Anglo Canadian in the Pacific Star qualifying areas prior..) An incredible story where the ship was under nearly constant dive bomb and torpedo attack, eventually getting struck with a bomb in the magazine, setting a fire which many men went to fight, while the gunners fended off the airplanes. After the battle and the fire was put out the Captain discovered the bomb in the ship had not exploded and sent for a disposal officer who took too long to remove the ordance so the Capt and Chief Officer lifted it off the ship themselves at any time it could have detonated! Capt and Chief Officer received OBE/MBE (And Lloyds Medal for Bravery at Sea)- seems like a GM or possible GC would have been more appropriate, Charlton and a Seaman Gunlayer the DSM, and two other BEMs/Commendations... The Anglo Canadian was in the Bay of Bengal sometime in early 1942 (Burma Clasp) departing Vizagatapam for Baltimore via Capetown and Acension. Anglo Canadian sunk by U-153 in central Atlantic, all but one of the crew survived...not sure if he was wounded or not but would have qualifed for the Atlantic Star right then or perhaps continued in the Atlantic on another ship...That is as far as I have gotten so far.. Qualification for the Defence Medal and F&G Clasp could easily fit into his war service.. His service record is annotated with his discharge in Sept 1945 and death info for 1962 so as for the NGSM it still seems odd - in 1955 he would have been 59, I suppose he could have been on a RFA or merchant vessel at that age. Certainly could be coincidental but quite a few checks in the box do seem to line up..at least it appears it could be possible though highly unlikely he would have ever worn this set, it could still represent his service. Anyhow I never imagined I would find so much info in a short time and regardless made for some interesting reading into a long serving Marine's career.
    13. Have gone through the recently received AIR 2/9142 files with no matches, though some interesting points. Fourteen recommendations for the Officer grade were listed to the following ranks: 3 W/C, 3 G/C, 4 A/C, and 4 A/V/M. There was also a remark from the Foreign Office in 1948 stating, "..there is a fixed rule which precludes the acceptance of any foreign decorations other than for war-time services." I wasn't aware of this rule and wonder when it was lifted, but it helps to maintain the focus on WW2 awards. The recommendations also break down the awards into Operational and Non-Operational, the majority being operational (LdeH accompanied by CdeG with Palm), and very few non-operational. There are six more sets of AIR 2 files to request, each seem to be around 400-500 pages so it will take some time still. Jeff
    14. It looks to be that the Air Force List doesn't list foreign decorations unfortunately. I have re-checked 107 RAF Bronze Star recipients with the London Gazette (from WW2 plus 40 years to cover a person's potential career) - only twelve meet the criteria of an OBE and Bronze Star during that period, they are: Acting G/C Peter Henry Gibbings, OBE (43208) W/C Stanely Conway, OBE (90677) W/C Geoffrey Keighley, OBE (77881) W/C Ian McNaughton Parsons, OBE (76395) W/C Leonard William Wells, OBE (05244) W/C Archibald Acheson, OBE (Only confirmed LdeH, O to date - but served in NW Europe) (74250) W/C Donald John Wiseman, OBE (78180) W/C John Howard Weaver, OBE (35114) W/C James Woods, OBE (119209) W/C Leonard Stanley Laughton, OBE (86263) W/C Frederick Ronald Cook, OBE (65622) S/L Ronald Scott Lawrence Bowker, OBE Some of these OBE's were awarded up into the 1950's and 60's so I believe it is a pretty conclusive list of RAF recipients. The next AIR 2 files from the National Archives should be in by next week so I will be able to check these names with the French awards to RAF. If anyone is able to find any information that would disqualify a name that would be great. Jeff
    15. I am once again able to continue my research, awaiting a new set of AIR 2 files from the National Archives. On a side note would anyone happen to know if the Air Force List indicates foreign awards to officers? I've seen a few digital copies online but they are difficult to read and haven't had the chance to look through a hard copy. Thanks. Jeff
    16. Good day, Would anyone be able to tell me if there are any notable variation differences with regard to makers of the Legion of Honour immediately before and after WW2? I ask in reference to the LdeH Officer at the beginning of the thread and wonder if it is possible to determine whether it was made before or after the War. I apologize if this question has already been asked in previous threads. Thanks. Jeff
    17. Good day, Here is my latest addition to my CD collection, a three clasp GVIR group of nine to Richard Peter Bodington 2954H, Royal Canadian Navy with service from 1937 to at least 1979. I am still in the process of researching his service though I was very fortunate to find an excellent article on him in the Crowsnest magazine from 1950 where he was featured as the Man of the Month while serving as the Chief Bos'n aboard HMCS Swansea. It is an interview with him detailing his War service including pre-War service aboard the destroyer St. Laurent, then Assiniboine upon outbreak of War, and corvettes Snowberry, Cobalt (as Buffer and Cox'n) and Quesnel - on convoy duty throughout the War. Post War to 1950 he served on the carrier Warrior, destoryer Haida, the auxiliary Lloyd George, then Swansea. In the summer of 1951 he was posted from the TAS School in Halifax to Nootka presumably for her 2nd Korean tour. He was promoted C2TD2 in 1952 - from what I have found that is Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Torpedo Detector 2nd Class (4th class being the highest qualification). I have found nothing further on this man's impressive career but presume he would have made it to CPO1/CWO (post-1968) with possible Reserve service? I have requested his Service Ledger through the National Archives of Canada as he joined pre-War but not sure how much of his service it will record. Anyhow very excited and honoured to have this sailor's incredible set p.s. there are two King's crown Clasps and one Queen's on the CD with reverse named to PO1 Bodington. The Defence Medal appears to be the copper nickel type over silver. Jeff
    18. Hi Gunney, I think this is a great thread, I too have a growing interest in and collection of the CD, especially the GVIR variety, so hopefully we can pool as many resources as possible to research the recipients on this thread. There is some good discussion in a previous thread http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/50382-king-george-vi-cd-and-2-bars/ which may add some helpful info here. My most recent addition is a 3 Clasp (!) GVIR CD group to a pre WW2-Korea-Cold War RCN Chief Petty Officer, it is in the mail but will post a picture soon One resource that may be helpful with regard to naval recipients is the RCN's Crowsnest Magazine, available in pdf format online at http://cold-war.muninn-project.org/crowsnest/ for the years 1948-1965. There is a retirements section in each edition listing the long service awards (with date of award) for each retiree along with a brief service history including all ships and shore establishments served in. Look forward to seeing this thread grow. Jeff
    19. That makes sense, so he would have gone by Archibald Acheson. That is a good idea I will check with the Museum to see if they have any portraits, thanks Mervyn. Jeff
    20. Thanks Mervyn, an interesting point about the Viscount. Interestingly enough in all the official mentions of him in the London Gazette and Air Force List before and throughout the War he is listed as, "Squadron Leader The Viscount Acheson, RAF" or whatever rank he held at various times. Indeed though he was elevated to the title of Earl of Gosford after the War upon the death of his father. I still felt he was the strongest candidate to date except for a few months service in NW Europe, and as he held numerous senior positions in various organizations throughout his life, including post war RAF service I would like to find a portrait of him wearing his full medal entitlement in order to rule him out completely but have had no success yet.
    21. Hi Herman, I regret to inform I have made little progess of late due to a busy personal life, birth of our second son, house move, and work among other things I have not lost heart by any means, just time and funds, but should have some time this fall to get right back into the AIR 2 Files. I appreciate everyone's support who have followed this project so far and will continue to track down the recipient until all resources have been exhausted. Jeff
    22. Hi Michael, yes so far any close matches have indicated that rank or the RAF equivalent, I suppose it is always possible it could go up to Brigadier/Air Commodore, I've seen some who were never elevated to C.B.E.. The Officier grade of the LdeH was very sparsely awarded I have found so far. Throughout the entire WO files for French awards to British there were perhaps only around thirty or so, mostly General officers, though one Officier was to a Major, RE, for services as assistant attache in Paris 1937-40. The key with the LdeH was that it was almost always accompanied by an automatic Croix de Guerre with palme when awarded during the Wartime years, unless awarded for non-operational type service. I have found sole awards of the LdeH during the War but they are very infrequent which is leading me to believe that this particluar LdeH could have been awarded pre or post-War. If that was the case however it should show up in the London Gazette but have not been able to find many. I still have a considerable amount of RAF files to go through which hopefully will produce results though one thing I firmly believe so far is that this set is unique Jeff
    23. Thanks Paul and Michael for the excellent information on naming and unit! Any idea what the "J" indicates? Jeff
    24. Here is the naming, I understand Indian medals were issued un-named though? Could these be later issues? Too bad they are unresearchable, thanks for the info Paul. Jeff
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