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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: JGDavies on Thursday 21 August 14 13:21 BST (UK)
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Hi,
Can anyone confirm the medal ribbon is this WW1 soldier wearing? I hope he's Company Sergeant Major Valentine Frederick Davis born Caterham, Surrey, UK 1886, awarded the Military Medal and who I'm told rose "to the rank of major in the Queen's Royal Regiment".
If the medal ribbon is correct this is surely him, is which case can anyone see the citation? when he was awarded the medal? or anything else of his military record?
Thanks, Jonathan
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Hi Jonathan,
have a look here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Medal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Medal),
so he is Valentine Frederick Davis MM.
Regards
Rudolf
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The London Gazette 29 August 1918 announced that "G/2019 Cpl. V. Davies R. W. Surr. R. Upper Caterham" had been awarded the MM for bravery in the field.
The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment website referred me to the "The Surrey History Centre [which] will now be dealing with research enquiries" so I've enquired there.
In the meantime is there anywhere anyone can recommend I look for more information?
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These are the war diaries for the Queens Regt. but you will have to go through a page at a time to see if there's a reference to Valentine Davis.
http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/war_diaries/war_diaries_home_new.shtml
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I looked through the diaries three months before and one month after the award appeared in the London Gazette - mention of other awards but not this one. Hardly any mention of other ranks by name.
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Williamson book on MM suggests awards for Spring offensive,egypt,italy and salonika appear in this Gazette sched numbers 177,000-184,999 (these are on the medal index card for MM)
So may have to go back to march,April time.
Ady
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Found something:
1st Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, Diary for April 1918, Appendix VII:
Following a lengthy descriptions of enemy attacks and operations on the 15th April 1918 around the "METEREN - OUTTERSTEENE ridge " ... The following ... N.C.O's ... were brought to notice as having rendered distinguished and gallant service during operations ... 2019 Cpl V. Davis ... [those named are] "In receipt of cards from G.O.C. Division".
13 May 1918 ... Award of decorations for operations S. of METEREN on 12th/14th April received.
Extract of Battalion order No 107 ... The "Queen's" Regt Monday May 13th 1918
Decorations: the corps commander has awarded the Military Medal to the following N.C.O.s and men ... 2019 Cpl V. Davis ...
20th May 1918 ... The Brigade inspected by the Army Commander ... The brigade was formed up in a hollow square at 11:30 a.m. Military Medals were presented to men of the battalion for distinguished conduct in the operations S. of METEREN on 12th/14th April. After distributing the ribbons Gen PLUMER gave a speech ...
Thanks for the advice, this is something. Do you think this is all that's likely to be out there to be found?
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MM awards frequently made the mans hometown local paper.
Looks like with no ciation surviving you have the info that he displayed bravery in the field (and it might not have been a single act ) on the ridge.
Ady
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Thanks for the advice, this is something. Do you think this is all that's likely to be out there to be found?
If you refer to the diary 12th. April 1918 you will see a complete account of the battle that took place around the village.
Although only officers are named you will get a good idea of what he was going through.
jim
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I've found this map which shows how the Spring offensive affected the allied lines from April 9th. - 20th.
You can see that by the 12th. the Germans had advanced to the outskirts of Outtersteene where they captured the British heavy artillery & was using it against them & by the 15th. had taken Meteren where they were halted.
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He has three overseas service chevrons on his right cuff - http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/servicechevrons.html
His medal card gives his highest rank as Sergeant. He may have re-enlisted during the 1920s to reach CSM and Major. If so his record will still be with the MOD. They may have carried on with his earlier papers so his WW1 service may also be with the MOD.
Ken
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In 1970, the year of his death, his daughter wrote "SERVED IN 1914-1918 WAR, C.SER/MAJ. QUEEN'S ROYAL REGIMENT AWARDED M.M."
It's quite possible my original statement that he became a "Major" based on received information which written recently was based on a misinterpretation of "C.SER/MAJ".
His daughter also wrote that he later became a "Professional Gardener", marrying on "Oct 16 1918 at Cumberland Place, London."
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Paul Nixon, Blogger on Army Service Numbers informs me that the 1st Battalion service number G/2019 was issued in 1914. I read somewhere, perhaps on Paul's site, that the "G/" indicated signing up for temporary service.
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History Centre Surrey put me on to the Caterham & District Library Local History Centre but they're missing Surrey Mirror for all of 1918. Likewise British Newspapers Online.
I hope to find the Medal Citation printed locally for Sgt Valentine Davis MM in it so any other source of Surrey Mirror and County Post appreciated.
(I've already ordered a copy of THE QUEEN’S ROYAL (WEST SURREY) REGIMENT (IN THE GREAT WAR).
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Can anyone explain how some of the query and the photo I posted in rootsweb now appears on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BadgesStory/photos/a.183875278324990.41118.183874271658424/335055596540290/?type=1&comment_id=865332006845977&offset=0&total_comments=22&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22} (https://www.facebook.com/BadgesStory/photos/a.183875278324990.41118.183874271658424/335055596540290/?type=1&comment_id=865332006845977&offset=0&total_comments=22&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22})
Jon
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looks like somebody googled his name,,,and one of the hits was the rootschat post.
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They have not taken the image and then posted it on Facebook - but have copied a link to the image on Rootschat (by doing right click image / copy url) and then shared that on Facebook.
A subtle difference I know - but it is what social media and especially Facebook is all about. It does link back to your image here on Rootschat rather than them just posting it and claiming as their own.
Milly
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History Centre Surrey put me on to the Caterham & District Library Local History Centre but they're missing Surrey Mirror for all of 1918. Likewise British Newspapers Online.
I hope to find the Medal Citation printed locally for Sgt Valentine Davis MM in it so any other source of Surrey Mirror and County Post appreciated.
I neved did find any Caterham paper for 1918 so would appreciate hearing of any source.
Though I did find a detailed description of the battle around Metren and the attack on the Windmill in which the 1st Queens are often mentioned by "Conan Doyle, A., 1919 A history of the Great War, Vol V Jan - Jul 1918".
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MM awards frequently made the mans hometown local paper.
Looks like with no ciation surviving you have the info that he displayed bravery in the field (and it might not have been a single act ) on the ridge.
Ady
To complete this story I've now been recieved Sgt Davis' medals including the MM, and a photo album which includes a card which can only be the citation entitld "33 Division British Expiditionary Force" gives his rank, name and regiment and then "Your commanding officer and brigade commander have informed me that you distinguished yourself in the field on the "12th/14th April 1918" which matches a couple of the "advance lines" on the map posted earlier in this thread.
Also as sent (thanks) a picture of Sgt Davis and others of the 1st Queens. Took three years but was worth waiting for (thanks Paul).
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Thanks for the update. Looks like job done.
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Good evening,
Just as a point of interest, the man in the photo on the facebook link is not the same man as the original photo.
The original shows a sgt with the MM.
The facebook image shows a Garrison Sgt Maj in the Grenadier Guards, with no MM. Only GSM carries that much "bird s***" on his arm, mostly seen with 4 chevrons behind the main badge.
John915
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Good evening,
Just as a point of interest, the man in the photo on the facebook link is not the same man as the original photo.
The original shows a sgt with the MM.
The facebook image shows a Garrison Sgt Maj in the Grenadier Guards, with no MM. Only GSM carries that much "bird s***" on his arm, mostly seen with 4 chevrons behind the main badge.
John915
Agreed, must have been changed since I originally noticed it.
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Back again,
A little further research shows him on pinterest labeled as "RSM" GGuards. It seems all guards WO1 wore that insignia not just GSM.
John915
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Seven years after starting this query I was sent a photo of NCOs and Officers including Sgt. Valentine Davis MM from a family album annotated 'Queens R. W. S. Regiment Paris July 1916'. This should probably read '1918'. The photo shows a soldier amongst the British Officers in a different uniform. Can anyone identify what army he may belong to? Perhaps a French liason?
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Good evening,
At first glance I would say Italian.
John915
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That chap is their French or Belgian Interpreter. The collar badges are a sphinx head.I dont know what the badge on his chest designates.Could be an Artillery Badge.
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Hi,
That chap is their French or Belgian Interpreter.
Seems obvious now you mention it. Thanks, Jon