Channel Islands Police WW2 Defence Medal.

[bigjarofwasps]

Curious to learn, whether the Channel Islands Police, qualified for the WW2 Defence Medal? 
 

Would also be interested, to learn if anyone has in their collections or is aware of any LSGC medal likely or confirmed to have been issued to a Channel Islands Bobby who would have been serving there during WW2. 
 

I assume that any such medal would have been issued in, a white cardboard box labelled as such. Has anyone ever see one? 

[bigjarofwasps]

In answer to my own question, found this….

 

“Police Constable Clifford Henry Bougourd, who was killed in the line of duty at the Clock Tower near the Harbour of St. Peter Port, Guernsey. He was on duty assisting and attending those wounded from the same raid, he then receive a Luffwaffe gunners bullet direct to the head through his Police helmet, effectively shot and killed “at action stations on 28th June 1940”, 2 days before the Official Occupation on the of 30th June 1940. This raid was the pre-cursor to Occupation, No qualification for the Defence medal or War medal, to any of those who gave their lives that day.
He died almost immediately where he fell being pronounced dead shortly later in Guernsey Hospital, Channel Islands, two days before the Island was officially occupied. 
Nobody on the Islands were eligible for the Defence medal, however he did died on duty before any occupying German forces had even landed on the Island.
Approx 41 Civilians were killed (Jersey = 9, Guernsey = 32) as a result of these bombing raids on this day, some of these died of wounds shortly after, there may be others who died a few more days or weeks later, and certainly were many more who died during the Occupation.
No Defence Medal, no medal entitlement around.”

[Dave Wilkinson]

The Chief Officer of the Guernsey Island Police during the German Occupation was Inspector Albert Lamy. He was awarded the BEM, in the "Occupation Honours" post liberation and the appended photo shows him wearing the appropriate ribbon. As you correctly say, the "Defence Medal" was not awarded to anyone remaining on any of the Islands during WWII. The reason for this is presumably because the Islands were not defended as such, by anyone remaining there. The armed forces of the Crown were withdrawn and they were all left to their fate.

 

With regard to the Police LSGC medal, this was awarded to the Jersey and Guernsey Police when it was introduced in 1951. Interestingly, service during the German occupation counted as "approved service" for the purpose of the award of the medal.

 

Dave. 

Edited September 25, 2023 by Dave Wilkinson

[bigjarofwasps]

1 hour ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

The Chief Officer of the Guernsey Island Police during the German Occupation was Inspector Albert Lamy. He was awarded the BEM, in the "Occupation Honours" post liberation and the appended photo shows him wearing the appropriate ribbon. As you correctly say, the "Defence Medal" was not awarded to anyone remaining on any of the Islands during WWII. The reason for this is presumably because the Islands were not defended as such, by anyone remaining there. The armed forces of the Crown were withdrawn and they were all left to their fate.

 

With regard to the Police LSGC medal, this was awarded to the Jersey and Guernsey Police when it was introduced in 1951. Interestingly, service during the German occupation counted as "approved service" for the purpose of the award of the medal.

 

Dave. 

Thanks Dave, that’s very interesting.

 

Found this additional information, which I thought might also be of interest.

 

• On 12 January 1940 Sergeant Charles Le Lievre was awarded the King's Police Medalfor gallantry in relation to an assault on 9 June 1939.
• On 11 December 1945, Mr A Lamy was awarded the British Empire Medal for services rendered during the Occupation.
• On 1 January 1957 the Queen's Police Medalwas awarded to the Chief Officer Mr A Lamy.

It appears that Albert Lamy was also awarded the QPM. I assume he got the LSGC as well.

 

Would be very interested, to see any examples of Gv1R or E11R (first version), LSGC’s to Officers who would have been serving during WW1. Particularly any that still have the white cardboard box of issue. 
 

 

 

 

Further reading about Lamy…

 

https://history.gg/albert-lamy-appointed-guernsey-police-chief-officer/
 

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I have a large file of papers and photos relating to Insp. Lamy and Guernsey Police generally.

 

I'm attaching a photo of Sgt. Chas. Le Lievre wearing his medals including KPM. His medals are in the possession of his family who are still resident on Guernsey. Another photo shows Mr. Lamy being presented with his QPM by the Governor of Guernsey and finally one showing him during a visit to Guernsey by HM The Queen . As you can see he does indeed have the LSGC medal.

 

Dave.

[bigjarofwasps]

39 minutes ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

I have a large file of papers and photos relating to Insp. Lamy and Guernsey Police generally.

 

I'm attaching a photo of Sgt. Chas. Le Lievre wearing his medals including KPM. His medals are in the possession of his family who are still resident on Guernsey. Another photo shows Mr. Lamy being presented with his QPM by the Governor of Guernsey and finally one showing him during a visit to Guernsey by HM The Queen . As you can see he does indeed have the LSGC medal.

 

Dave.

Thanks Dave, these are GREAT 👍👍

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what’s the medal between Lievre’s LSGC and KPM? 

 

 

Or am I miss identifying the WW1 BWM with the LSGC, and the middle medal is in fact the WW1 Victory medal? 

Also struggling with Lamy’s medals?

 

A -BEM

B- QPM

C - appears to have ribbon but no medal?

D- ?

E- LSGC

Edited September 25, 2023 by bigjarofwasps

[bigjarofwasps]

Is D the 1953 Coronation Medal, perhaps? 

[Dave Wilkinson]

18 hours ago, bigjarofwasps said:

Is D the 1953 Coronation Medal, perhaps? 

Yes, it is. You can see it more clearly if you zoom in on this medals on the photo of him getting his QPM.

 

Dave.

18 hours ago, bigjarofwasps said:

Thanks Dave, these are GREAT 👍👍

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what’s the medal between Lievre’s LSGC and KPM? 

 

 

Or am I miss identifying the WW1 BWM with the LSGC, and the middle medal is in fact the WW1 Victory medal? 

Also struggling with Lamy’s medals?

 

A -BEM

B- QPM

C - appears to have ribbon but no medal?

D- ?

E- LSGC

The one on the extreme left (Lamy) with the black ribbon is Order of St. John. Can't make out what "C" is. I'm also stumped with your query re. Le Lievre's unidentified medal. Could be one of the war medals as you suggest.

 

Dave. 

Edited September 26, 2023 by Dave Wilkinson

[bigjarofwasps]

34 minutes ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

Yes, it is. You can see it more clearly if you zoom in on this medals on the photo of him getting his QPM.

 

Dave.

The one on the extreme left (Lamy) with the black ribbon is Order of St. John. Can't make out what "C" is. I'm also stumped with your query re. Le Lievre's unidentified medal. Could be one of the war medals as you suggest.

 

Dave. 

Totally missed the order of St John 😂.

C has been stumped as well, can’t think what that one could be, given they didn’t get any WW2 medals?

 

Am certain that that Le Lievre’s medals are the BWM & Victory with his KPM last, having looked more closely. You can just about make out the angle on the victory medal.

 

Would be interested, in seeing any others you have, especially ones including the LSGC 👍👍👍.