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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Marian Brown on Thursday 27 March 08 15:04 GMT (UK)
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I have found in my parents effects a WW1 campaigne medal with the name Alfred H Britton on the side but no service number. My parents lived in Hull E Yorks. I would be grateful for any help in returning this medal to the family of Alfred Britton.
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Hi,
which medal is it? one of these?
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp
is there anything else written on the medal aside from the name?
a rank? a unit?
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Hi Marian
Welcome to Rootschat :)
I wonder how your parents came to have the medal? Is he likely to be related do you think?
There is a marriage for an Alfred H Britton to Emily Gray June 1/4 1924 registered Sculcoates. Ring any bells?
Susan
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Hi Marian,
Welcome from me, too - what a lovely thing to do! :)
Looked at the Medal Rolls on ancestry, but there isn't one for an Alfred H Britton. Several Alfreds, and one Albert H who was in the Yorkshire Regiment; and another Albert H in the Royal Engineers, Yorkshire Regiment.
Do you want the information from any of these.?
If I find anymore I think might fit, I'll let you know.
Kind regards,
Paulene :)
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Hi again,
One more:
Alfred - West Yorkshire Regiment, Labour Corps.
Hope this helps a little.
Paulene :)
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There is a Hull marriage for an Alfred Henry Britton in Q2 1910 (9d 465) - bride was either Susannah Emily WEST or Nellie WOODHOUSE
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hi marian
welcome to roots :)
lack of a service number might indicate that the man was an officer
these medals had to be applied for(i think)
which medal is it ?(modify - oops! neil1821 asked already)
is the name stamped on the medal ?
the experts on here will give you a better idea
it might be linked to your family somehow
ev
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Though Marian hasn't got back to us yet, a few further thoughts...
Since you've only mentioned a name, I'm going to assume that the name is all there is on the medal rim. That would suggest he was Mercantile Marine/Merchant Navy, where name-only was typical naming style.
If he was army, then the medal will show rank and regiment as well as the name (whether officer or other rank)
Likewise if he was Royal Navy, then you'd see a rank plus either RN, RNR, RNVR, RNAS etc as a minimum
Similarly for RFC, RAF.
I can't think of any other major group (maybe a few civilians? maybe a few others?) that fits with just a name. Hope that helps :)
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Just checked Naval Records online hes not on there so maybe it is Mercantile Marine?? unless it partially erased.
Ady
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I must apologise for the delay in replying to the all the helpful messages i received. Thank you all very much.
In answer to some of the points made - there is definately nothing else on the medal but the name - Alfred H Britton.
None of the names suggested that may have been his wife rang any bells but i shall keep them in mind for future reference. He is definately not a known relative.
As my father Charles Davies was in the Royal Naval Reserve 1914 - 1918 I wonder if he was a friend of my father. Can anyone tell me whether or not the medals for the RNR have a number engraved on them?
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A medal to the RNR would have number, name, rank, RNR
So for example "123456 J.Bloggs, A.B, R.N.R."
So I'm still going with Mercantile Marine/Merchant Navy for Alfred H Britton.
But with a Hull connection (Hull being a large port of course), it sounds likely enough.
:)
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Is it Silver?
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Here's a thought...
One of the Quakers or such like not attached to regular units, but their own ambulances which were on the various fronts of WW1
Would be nice to know what the actual medal is though....
What does the front and back say???
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Thanks again for your interest in Alfred's medal. I have tried to add a photograph but haven't been successful so i will try and describe it.
On one side we have The side view of the head of King George V facing left with the words
GEORGIVS V BRITT. OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:
On the reverse we have a naked man riding a sadddleless horse with a short sword in his right hand
The horse has one foot on what appears to be a shield on the ground next to a skull and cross bones.
There is a sun above the horse's head and 1914 1918
The medal is silver in colour.
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British War Medal...
Most definitely...
Now then, to whom and why was it issued!!!
It was initially issued to commemorate the end of the war...
6.5 million were issued in silver, and the period of 1919-1920 was included for participation in ops in North and South Russia, The Baltic, Siberia, the Black Sea and the Caspian (White Russian and Allied Army against the Soviets), as well as service in mine clearance .