Sailor Malan's medals

[milhistry]

Does anyone know ther whereabouts of Group Captain A G "Sailor" Malan, DSO and bar, DFC and bar, etc.'s medal group? I would like to obtain a photograph of the group and/or ribbon bar. The RAF museum does not have it and I assume the authorities in South Africa at the time of his death would not have been interested in it given the disrespectful way in which he & many other ex-servicemen were treated by the government of the day.

[Brett Hendey]

In 1957, the Africana Museum inJohannesburg published a list of the medals in its collections and Malan's medals were included. This museum has been renamed MuseumAfrica and, as far I know, it still exists. Whether or not Malan's medals are still in its care is another question entirely.

Brett

[Arthur R]

Sailor Malan's medals were in the SA National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg in 1989, and are quite likely still there.

The museum has a website with contact details - http://www.ditsong.o...ry_exhibits.htm .

[milhistry]

Thanks for that. I'll contact them and see what happens.

[malanmm]

Has anyone found a photo of Sailor Malan's Medals yet?  

If possible, please post a photo online.

Alternatively, a confirmed List of the names and devices of each of his medals would be very appreciated.

 

[malanmm]

The only photo of his Medals that I can find on the internet is found at the following website (poor quality and only partial photo of the medals):

https://www.flying-tigers.co.uk/2017/adolph-sailor-malan-latest-hobbymaster-announcements-and-oxford-diecast-vehicle-additions/ 

[gavinmedals]

Hi, I recall seeing the group at the SA Museum of Military history (renamed as above) many years ago. At one point there was a reported theft of a VC group, after which I was told the family had reclaimed the group. Unfortunately this is anecdotal at best.

[peter monahan]

Here is the current contact site for the SA National Museum of Military History.  Try contacting them directly and asking if the medals are: on display, still in the museum,  or have been photographed and whether that photograph can be accessed.

https://ditsong.org.za/contact/

[gavinmedals]

18 minutes ago, peter monahan said:

Here is the current contact site for the SA National Museum of Military History.  Try contacting them directly and asking if the medals are: on display, still in the museum,  or have been photographed and whether that photograph can be accessed.

https://ditsong.org.za/contact/

Hi, I was at the museum last year Sept and it was definitely not on display. Perhaps they have a photo in the library. Good luck with that....

[Herman]

Interesting topic. No pictures to be found indeed.

Checking several sources gives the following list:

DSO & bar, DFC & bar, 39-45 star with Battle of Britain clasp, Air Crew Europe star, Defence Medal, War Medal & Mid oak leaf, Belgian Croix de Guerre with bronze oak leaf,  Czecho-Slovakian Military Cross, French Legion d'Honneur Officer grade and French Croix de Guerre. 

 

Now a detailed sharp picture will help.

 

Regards 

Herman 

[Arthur R]

Photo published in the Militaria journal (Vol 19 No 3) in 1989.  The full article ('The South African National Museum of Military History') is available as a pdf (1.42 MB) on this website : https://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/issue/view/58

[peter monahan]

Oh, well done, that man!

[gavinmedals]

 Great to see and thank you for the link to the article. Believe it or not I own two biographies on him and not one had a photo of the group.

[malanmm]

THANK YOU!

I actually just ordered 4 of his biographies from abebooks in the hopes that at least one would have a photo of the medals (I am still waiting for the books to arrive).  As such, the photo provided is very appreciated.  

Given my last name (Malan), I would like to re-create his medal rack to display next to my own military medals as well as my Dad's medals and my Grandfather's WW2 medals.  If anyone has advice about where to obtain "reasonably" priced original medals for the Belgium, Czech and French WW2 medals and/or a source for museum quality reproductions of the DSO, DFC and ACE, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

Edited March 30, 2020 by malanmm

[malanmm]

 

Does anyone know what Clasp is on his ACE Star?  (is it an "Atlantic" or a "France & Germany" Clasp)?

 

[malanmm]

I just found this picture of Sailor Malan in a suit wearing his medals. 
 

I think it is probably a “France and Germany” clasp on his Air Crew Europe medal.
 

I would still love to find perfect photos of all of his medals and clasps/devices up close.  Hopefully someone eventually can obtain some for me. 
 

Cheers,

Matt

 

Edited March 25 by malanmm