RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: lowanslow on Monday 25 October 10 01:14 BST (UK)
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Forgive my self indulgence, but if you have been following my posts, VN-K, and James Waggot Wison. Here is John Ralph Conlon's Medals from world war two. My cousin David has given them to me, they have been in the box since ww2, hence there good condition, only one slight mark upon them. I can not express how good I feel, how thankfull I am to my Cousin. The hunt still goes on but my heart can now begin to rest, and I have had to much celebration.
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Its not self indulgence. Its commemoration. Its nice to see a group of medals with a family rather than on ebay.... ;D
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Thank you for that DeeBoneham, your quite right, and I hope they will stay with me for a long time :)
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I am sure they will and that they will be handed on down the family with love and honour. :)
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How wonderful to have the medals to pass down the generations. They are certainly something to be proud about.
Rae
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glad you've seen them in the flesh, they look nearly new..... the address was still there until recently if you look on nosey american, I mean google maps you can see a before and an after... :(
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Cheers for that 50sqnwopag, I used to play all around there when I was young, my aunty Betty/Elizabeth Wilson nee Conlon used to live just up from there, she of course was married to my Uncle Jimmy/James Waggot Wilson, she was the sister of John Ralph Conlon, cant believe its gone, oh well time marches on. I was over the moon when I pulled the medals out of the box, I thought time might have been unkind. So gratefull I got my hands on them, just hope my cousin Dave has some more gems in the loft. We are getting together at xmas so I can see my Uncle Jimmy's ww2 photographs. The photograph I have posted is at the back of field Street, J.R. Conlon on the front of the bike, Uncle henry and my my Aunt Betty faces to the rear with a pooch. Cheers for that excel thank you.
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Great pic. I have some lovely pics of the 75 Sqn guy who started me off on all this courtesy of his niece. I was in tears when I saw one of them...
Dee
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Hi dee, it's worth shedding a tear for those who have passed so young, such a short life, yet they did so much. Thankfully so we do not have to.
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Unfortunately we are still losing the young people in Afghanistan etc but its not in as great a number. I am involved in several remembrance ceremonies over the next week or so (in best dress uniform) and the last post will make me well up every time I hear it.... :'(
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Great to see those medals pictured, l have the same three handed down to me just over a year ago, you could have knocked me down with a feather when they were given to me as it was quite unexpected.
My Uncle failed to return from an op to Berlin 3/4 Sept 1943. My Dad who is now 80 is so pleased that l have the medals as he thought they were long gone.
And get this lowanslow.....my Dad and his family were all born in Jarrow and lived for a time in Hebburn too..........just along the road from Felling.
By the way, the Aircrew Europe Star is really special, as it was particular to aircrew.....about the only recognition they got.
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its a shame some of them don't like wearing it, as (the one I spoke to said) they have gotten grief from their own country folk, who were born after the Germans tried to take over the world and as a result of the post war political scum distancing themselves from their own policies.... >:(
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There is a campaign in play at the moment for there to be a special bomber medal...
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Hi there dee, you are right and each time some one is lost it does sadden the soul, and when you hear the bugle it does pull the heart out through the throat. Thanks for the news that they are trying to bring that medal about, will keep eyes and ears open.
Totally agree 50sqnwopag.
WelwynGC1 cheers for that information, you think that there would have been more recognition for all of the efforts for all airman. It was nice to hear that your Dad was from Jarrow, Hebburn, my Grandad was born and brought up there.
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its a shame some of them don't like wearing it, as (the one I spoke to said) they have gotten grief from their own country folk, who were born after the Germans tried to take over the world and as a result of the post war political scum distancing themselves from their own policies.... >:(
Whilst l agree with you, l am surprised you have encountered someone who doesnt like wearing it.....maybe they just dont want to be reminded of the horror of the times. All the veterans l have met wear it with pride. It also fills me with pride to know my Uncle took part, albeit for only three missions.
Hi Dee.....a campaign medal would be fantastic, but dont hold your breath...l fear it will never happen. Shame on anyone who thinks they dont deserve it.
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Spotted on the web that there is an unofficial bombers medal for sale on the awards medal site, it's a pity they couldn't make a official medal for the those who served with the bombers. What do you think, worth buying, or better to hang out for the real thing.
Here is a couple of copies of a few photographs I was allowed to keep. Hope you dont mind.
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The first of those photos is similar to the one that had me in tears. In the one I have though Edgar is looking at the camera and grinning cos hes in the pilots seat. He was an observer (bomb aimer)... Great photos... :)
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Thanks Dee, its great having these I hope I can find more, sent off for his records, so will have to play the waiting game now. Till then.
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Great photos, thanks for posting them, do you know where they were taken???????
Shame the group one does not have names.
Steve.
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Hi WelwynGC1, thanks for that, alas there are no names on the rear of the photograph as it is in the form of a post card. I have always presumed that it was taken in Quebec as there were post cards which came along with the photographs, which were sent from Canada, which as I write this it has given me a idea. There is also one from the U.S., Albany. So I always had hoped that it was a training course over there. They are three which have dates on them May, July and September in 1942, one has no date stamp so I think he never sent that one but brought it home. He was a Observer at first then went on to earn his bomber wings which I presumed he earned through this period. I will have to be patient though until the records arrive. Oh my. :-\
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He looks too young to die but then they all did :'(
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I have just read a few of your threads about your Uncle J R Conlon and i had to create an account to reply and say how amazing his story is. I am a personal collector of medals and acquired his comrade Flight Engineer - Reginald Walter Laws 3x medals almost 6 years ago (Air Crew Europe, 1939-45 star and War medal)
These were the notes i was given with the medals (excuse the lack of grammar but this is exactly what i received):
AWARDED TO 1431816 REGINALD WALTER LAWS AIR CREW EUROPE, 1939-45 STAR AND WAR MEDAL SGT. FLT ENGINEER REGINALD WALTER LAWS 1431816
SERVED WITH 50 SQUADRON ROTAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
DIED 27TH NOVEMBER 1943 AGE 20SERVED UNDER GUY GIBSON VC IN 50 SQUADRON AND HAS A NEWS PAPER CLIPPING FROM THE DAILY MIRROR 1987 REGARDING PLAYING THE PIANO FOR GIBSON WHEN HIS RECORD HE PLAYED AS A LUCKY CHARM THE SHRINE OF SAINT CECILLIA WAS BROKEN AND REGINALD STEPPED IN TO PLAY THE TUNE ON THE PIANOINCLUDED IS THE NEWSPAPER CUTTING AND A WAR GRAVES COMMISION LETTER REGARDING THE ASHES OF REGINALDS BROTHER BEING PUT WITH REGINALD
https://ibb.co/bRF0yc
https://ibb.co/fQfYJc
https://ibb.co/f3vTjH
https://ibb.co/dyvTjH
https://ibb.co/hCwCBx
https://ibb.co/cuyQWx