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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Glosterboy on Friday 14 August 20 12:15 BST (UK)

Title: Medal and Clasp
Post by: Glosterboy on Friday 14 August 20 12:15 BST (UK)
Hello, I have recently discovered one of my relatives during WW1 was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Plus a Clasp. Of which I can not decipher the reason/description of the Clasp. In fact I have no knowledge of why he was awarded the DCM. I have attached his Military History Sheet upon which this award is recorded. Please can anybody read and decipher the words in the Clasp column? Thanks.   
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 14 August 20 12:28 BST (UK)
It just a note of its publication date in the London Gazette
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 14 August 20 12:32 BST (UK)
You should be able to find the citation on Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1913/

Or FindMyPast: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/world-records/full-list-of-united-kingdom-records/armed-forces-and-conflict/wwi-distinguished-conduct-medal-citations
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: Glosterboy on Friday 14 August 20 12:46 BST (UK)
Thanks. I can now see where London Gazette is mentioned. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: Crumblie on Friday 14 August 20 13:39 BST (UK)
If he was awarded the DCM and clasp it basically means he was awarded it twice so there should be two London Gazette entries.
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: Glosterboy on Friday 14 August 20 13:51 BST (UK)
Thanks. As you can detect from the attached Military History Sheet. There is an entry in the Name of Medal column - Distinguished Conduct Medal and an entry in the Clasps column - of which I can't decipher. Of which I have now been kindly informed refers to an entry within the London Gazette and a date 3-?-19. So, what is Crumblie referring too? Thanks.   
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: MaxD on Friday 14 August 20 15:19 BST (UK)
Clerks then and now were wont to use any spare space on a record that suited them, here the clerk has simply (and usefully) put the LG date under the clasp heading. 

A second DCM is denoted by a Bar to the DCM not a clasp.

MaxD
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: MaxD on Friday 14 August 20 16:49 BST (UK)
You may find his citation in the National Archives series WO 391 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C14595

If you need help post his name and number.

MaxD
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: Glosterboy on Friday 14 August 20 17:08 BST (UK)
I need help please.

21737 Pte Reuben Edward Dyer 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards.

Any and all information would be very much appreciated.

Thank You.
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: MaxD on Friday 14 August 20 17:19 BST (UK)
London Gazette:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31370/page/6847  (30 May 1919)

MaxD
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: MaxD on Friday 14 August 20 17:40 BST (UK)
It seems that the citation register doesn't cover those awarded in this list.  This was normal where the award was for a sustained period of distinguished conduct rather than one specific act.

https://www.researchingww1.co.uk/grenadier-guards-ww1

Max

War diary info later




Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: Glosterboy on Friday 14 August 20 17:45 BST (UK)
Thanks very much.

Hopefully somewhere its recorded of what was the circumstances of this award to him. I have a copy of the 4th BN GG 1915-1919 war diary. I can't find anything within reference of this award.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 14 August 20 17:50 BST (UK)
Citation on Ancestry (bottom of column 1) https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1913/images/31825_217834-00016

It shows a different Gazette date - 11 March 1920
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: Glosterboy on Friday 14 August 20 18:24 BST (UK)
Thanks for all your help. As you can detect Reuben did survive WW1. I'm currently attempting to get his todays relatives "on-board" to establish firstly are they aware of this V.Special award? And secondly if so, does the medal still survive?

Unfortunately, I don't have access to subscription "Find Family" sites.

If you do discover anything reference within the War Diary it would be appreciated. I looked through it and found nothing. But, I could easily have missed something.   
Title: Re: Medal and Clasp
Post by: MaxD on Friday 14 August 20 19:30 BST (UK)
Kudos ShaunJ.

The citation is in the 11 March 1920 London Gazette that ShaunJ identifies
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31819/supplement/3036  :

It is in the register for the 1920 LG. ((I looked for the May 1919 one) http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14728191  image 22

As far as finding something in the war diary is concerned, the first part of the citation which refers to his good service and gallant conduct from August 1915 to November 1918 confirms that the award was for a sustained period.  It refers to his conduct on bringing up the rations under difficult circumstances on 13 April - but singularly fails to say which year so you should look at each year in the war diary.

MaxD

The war diaries are here:http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_aq=WO%2095&_ep=4%20battalion%20grenadier&_dss=range&_ro=any&_st=adv  the ones you don't have can be downloaded free at the moment.

MaxD