Best way to research my Fathers journey throught the second world war.

[VictoriaNZ]

Thanks for clarifying that! My daughter is doing an assignment on her great grandfather so any info we csn find would be briliant.

[VictoriaNZ]

Can someone please tell me what medals Grandad was likely awarded from serving in this Regiment? Sadly he didn't keep them. Many thanks.

[Ruskie]

You may be able to work it out by reading this:
https://www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility

Others may be able to help you better than I can, but I think it is quite complex and depends on dates and areas he served (as well as getting the basic medals that all servicemen were awarded) and there are clasps etc which are added into the mix .... and not accounting for any gallantry awards ... 

If you know name. dob etc you may want to contact the MOD who may be able to tell you which medals he was awared:
Medals enquiries
MOD Medal Office
Innsworth House
Imjin Barracks
Gloucester
GL3 1HW
Email: DBS-Medals@mod.uk

[VictoriaNZ]

Thank you. I'll definitely do that. I have his name, DOB, and number also.

[alanmack]

Thank you. I'll definitely do that. I have his name, DOB, and number also.

. . . and do remember to ask whether the medals have already been sent to the recipient. If the answer is no, the N.O.K. will be entitled to claim them.

[Ruskie]

Thank you. I'll definitely do that. I have his name, DOB, and number also.

. . . and do remember to ask whether the medals have already been sent to the recipient. If the answer is no, the N.O.K. will be entitled to claim them.

That is a good point. They will also tell you the address to which they were sent, the date sent and who to they were sent (if they were claimed).

And while you are at it you might as well ask if he was entitled to any medals he did not claim.

You said Grandad didn't keep his medals - did he deliberately get rid of them or were they just misplaced/lost over the years?

[VictoriaNZ]

His daughter, my mother, remembers her younger brother playing with them as a child. Grandad lived in this house until his death, for more than 60 years. And they didn't re-surface. It's possible that those medals seen were my Grandad's fathers, who lived in the same house until his death in the 50s. So worth looking into! Thank you for your help.

[VictoriaNZ]

From the link above to the BlueYonder site, and using Wikipedia, it looks like my grandfather would have been awarded these medals:
- 39-45 African Star (for service in North African 1942-43)
- Territorial medal?
- War Medal 1939-45 (oak leaf)
- 1939-45 Star - for service during WWII (is this the same medal as the above oak leaf)
- Italy Star?

I'd appreciate if someone could comment and let me know if I'm on the right track. I'm a novice.

Thanks so much.

PS. I have contacted the Ministry of Defence to enquire as to what Grandad was awarded, and have an enquiry form which my mother, his NOK, will need to fill out.

[Drew5233]

I'd wait to you get a copy of his service records...All will be revealed in them. The Oak Leaf is a Mention in Despatches. They were either awarded for gallantry where a soldier was killed in action (Only VC and GCs could be awarded posthumously during WW2) or for some other deed where a soldier survived.