Found him in a pow camp but nothing else, + fake medals

[adzy]

G'day,

Myself and my brothers were looking to restore and frame our grandfathers ww2 medals to give to our father as a gift. He was a british soldier. The medals are fake and have no idea why!!
There are 7 medals in total -
1. 1939-1945 star
2. Africa star
3. Italy star
4. Defence medal
5. War medal
6. Military medal for bravery in the field
7. Distinguished conduct medal.

His name is Ronald Edwin Townsend and I found the details of the POW camp he was held in at stalag IV-C in ancestry but from there cannot get any information on enlistment, medals or any other details. Frustrating!

Does anyone know where i can get more info. I'm certainly not going to frame medals whichhe didnt actually get. Also, he said a while ago before he passed away that he put his age up when he signed up. Not sure if this makes a difference.

Thanks

[GrahamSimons]

I can't find any record of his being awarded the MM or DCM in the London Gazette.

A search indicated that he might have been in the Royal Leicestershire Regt and then the Black Watch:
http://www.royalleicestershireregiment.org.uk/have-you-a-tiger/record/58991/
If this is the right man (I've no idea how many people there were named Ronald Edwin Townsend), tere is an off-chance that the regimental museums could help a bit, particularly with the operations leading up to his capture.

His records will still be with the MOD and you'd need to apply for them, see:
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

There is helpful PoW guidance here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/prisoners-war-1939-1953.htm

[jennifer c]

On his death reg. gives date of birth as 27/4/1920  (Bristol BDM)

Jennifer

[jennifer c]

Can you confirm the area you are looking in, as the one I have found mother's maiden name Rawle married in England in 1944. This seems not to add up with the POW camp?

Jennifer

[adzy]

The information of i found of the prisoner of war camp is through the database on ancestry.  It has his army number and his regiment name as being the argyll and sutherland highlanders.
On following the link to the royal leister regiment, it turns out that the army number is the same for that regiment.

Now I am really confused!! His mothers maiden name is Snell.

[silvery]

From freebmd  http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

Dec quarter, 1923, district Gainsboro', vol 11a page 1183
Ronald E Townsend
mmn Snell

(mmn = mother's maiden name)

There are two other siblings.

[silvery]

There is a marriage Townsend to Snell in 1910.   Do you want details?   Or you can look it up in freebmd yourself. 

If you press 'page number' it gives the other names on the page.   

Forget that marriage

this one, also from freebmd, looks a lot more likely

March quarter 1922, Gainsboro' vol 7a, page 1295
George Townsend to Olive M Snell

[silvery]

How do you know the medals are fake? 

[adzy]

From what i"ve read about what the medals are supposed to be made out off, they definitely seem like thy're plastic.

I'll check out that link. Feel like i'm making progress.