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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: ryanh31 on Monday 07 January 19 20:14 GMT (UK)
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Hi. My great, great uncle, Albert E Haram served in the First World War at Mons and other battles, however the 1914 star is not marked on his medal card (the 1914 star was awarded to every soldier at Mons). He was decorated for gallantry at Mons for capturing German machine guns, so is it a mistake on his medal card?
Thanks
Ryan
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Hi
Do you have a definite date for his gallantry medal? Although the Battle of Mons took place in 1914, there was fighting there at various times and the both the first and last British soldiers killed are buried there.
It could be that he was awarded a gallantry medal 'at Mons', but not at the Battle of Mons in 1914.
Of course, it could also be an error if the gallantry award coincides with the 1914 battle.
Best wishes
Rockford
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It was the Battle of Mons that took place in 1914. I do not have a exact date for the award of his Military Medal. I do, however have a picture of him with his Military Medal on.
Thanks
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His military medal award was in the London Gazette June 1918.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30743/supplement/7009
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Thanks for that :) :) It seems like a mistake that his medal card said that he didnt get the 1914 'Mons' Star.
Thanks
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https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=163101.0
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The listing in the Gazette will have been 3-4 months after the event that earned him the MM, so as has been suggested, it was unlikely to have been the Battle of Mons
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thats where he was awarded his military medal. So he must've been at mons, his direct desendant told me.
I have sent a letter to his direct desendant for further info so i will be finding out more soon. I wont post on this until I have recived the info.
Thanks for you help
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The Military Medal wasn't introduced until 1916, so as has been suggested, he may have been involved in some later action at Mons, but not the Battle of Mons.
Do let us know if you learn anything more.
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I will let you know. The military medal dates back to 1914, even though it was formed in 1916. I will find out info shortly and will tell you when i find out. thanks
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I see the London Gazette lists him as being from Gateshead.
The Newcastle Journal of 28 Nov 1918 has a short article under the headling "Military Medals for Local Soldiers - Presentation at Gateshead"
"At the Empire Theatre, Gateshead, last night, Sergt. A. A. Haram, Private J. H. Parkin, Private J. Burns, Private J. McNeil, Private W. R. Lennox and Corporal W. Hughes were presented with Military Medals in recognition of their gallantry on the field. The medals were handed over by Brigadier-General Surtees and Mr Adam Dodds presided. The Gateshead War Honours Recognition Committee also presented each of the soldiers with a wristlet watch, and Private J. H. Parkin was presented by his employer, Mr Joseph Wilkinson, with a cheque for £50."
I suspect A.A. Haram should be A.E Haram. However, if it was for gallantry at the Battle of Mons, 4 years later seems to be an awfully long time before the medal was received. I have relations awarded different gallantry medals and a few months' interval would seem much more common.
Best wishes
Rockford
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He did not return from the war until 1918, so that might've affected it. He was awarded his medal in June of 1918 so that might not be the right person.
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I've checked the war diary for the 19th Northumberland Fusiliers, and his name appears
as a MM recipient under the heading "AWARDS - MILITARY MEDAL" with half a dozen or so others under an entry dated 12 Apr 1918, and he is listed as being with W Coy.
If you have access to Ancestry you can find it under Northumberland Fusiliers > 35th Division > Piece 2477/1-10 > image 756
Otherwise you can download from TNA: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14084822
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thanks ill have a look on ancestry now
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This should hopefully take you straight there: http://www.rootschat.com/links/01n85/
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what is 'w coy'?
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Coy = Company, so he was with W Company, 19th NF
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so is W just the name of the company?
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yes
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Family "knowledge" of such events isn't always accurate. Somebody asked me to help find out more about her father's MM, as the citation had been lost. She "knew" that it had been awarded for an action at Ypres. She was in no doubt about this.
By good luck, when the service records became available her father's record was among those that had survived. There was a wonderful bonus in the file - a letter written by her father after demob, asking when he might receive the medal. In the letter he gave the exact date of the action. It took place in ... Italy! ;D