RootsChat.Com

General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: SmallTownGirl on Sunday 18 November 18 18:31 GMT (UK)

Title: Medal engraving protocol
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Sunday 18 November 18 18:31 GMT (UK)
Is the name of the regiment engraved on the Victory/British War Medals that of the final regiment he served in, e.g. the Labour Corps, or could it possibly be an earlier regiment, e.g. the Leicestershire Regiment, please?

Thanks
STG
Title: Re: Medal engraving protocol
Post by: jim1 on Sunday 18 November 18 18:47 GMT (UK)
Interesting question.
My understanding is that on these 2 medals it was the Regt. he was in at 11/11/18 + his rank.
The 14/15 Stars have the disembarkation Regt. + rank.
I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.
Title: Re: Medal engraving protocol
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Monday 19 November 18 17:41 GMT (UK)
Thanks jim1  :)

STG
Title: Re: Medal engraving protocol
Post by: jim1 on Monday 19 November 18 17:54 GMT (UK)
As I haven't been corrected I'll take it I'm right.
Title: Re: Medal engraving protocol
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Monday 19 November 18 18:12 GMT (UK)
Quote from: jim1 on Monday 19 November 18 17:54 GMT (UK)
As I haven't been corrected I'll take it I'm right.

 ;D
Title: Re: Medal engraving protocol
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Tuesday 20 November 18 14:44 GMT (UK)
Well, I've just asked exactly the same question on the British Medals Forum and been told (by the two replies so far) that the medal would be engraved with "the first unit with which the recipient arrived at a theatre of war"  and, accordingly, the service number he held with that first unit.  The only thing that would change, apparently, would be that the rank engraved would be the highest rank he obtained with that first [overseas] unit, so if he entered France as a private, but was promoted to Sgt, the engraving would show Sgt.

Confused, moi?  ???

STG
Title: Re: Medal engraving protocol
Post by: jim1 on Tuesday 20 November 18 15:51 GMT (UK)
That would mean that any man transferring to the Lab. Corps. which didn't exist prior to 1917 wouldn't have a medal inscribed with that on unless he went straight into it at attestation.
I'm not sure that's right.
Title: Re: Medal engraving protocol
Post by: MaxD on Wednesday 21 November 18 09:45 GMT (UK)
It's never straightforward!

Ivor Lee in No Labour No Battle is clear that all three of the main service medals were impressed with the regiment the man first went overseas with.  A man serving at home first with, say an infantry unit who then transfers and goes overseas with the Labour Corps has Labour Corps impressed so not necessarily from attestation. I have seen him answering queries elsewhere supported by others.

The Stars had the rank he had when he qualified and the BW and V medals had the highest rank he achieved.

That said, like everything else, examples have been seen of the "wrong" unit being impressed, not an exact science!

MaxD