Good evening,
Over the next few weeks I will be getting my Great Grandfather William Ernest Sanderson's Second World War Medals framed. I am told by his daughter, my grandmother, that he spent 7 years in the Armed Forces and signed up right at the start of the war, (Although I cannot know for sure, this was after all before she was born), and that he was in the REME from it's inception; a fact my Grandmother is quite proud of.
He was awarded the North Africa Star for his operational service on that front, and I know from a letter he wrote at the end of the war that he served in the Persia and Iraq Forces and was attached in an L.A.D to 4 GHQ Liaison Regiment (Phantom). He spoke to my grandmother of his time in Egypt, and he was in possession and we still are of a pamphlet titled "Beirut to Baghdad" which was to inform the troops of what they were likely to come across when traversing through this land.
Unfortunately on his North Africa star there is no specific bar or clasp. I was wondering if people would be aware if he was entitled to a North Africa clasp, a 1st Army Clasp, or an 8th Army Clasp, or how I might be best going about finding out this information? The medals aren't in A1 condition so I'm not sure if there is a clasp missing or not.
Any REME Experts can assist in telling me what clasps he may have been entitled to based on the fact he spent his entire war in North Africa and was in the REME and later moved up into PAI Forces. Apologies I have no further information.
Many thanks,
Keiren
(I have pictures of him over in North Africa during the war, just for your interest.)
https://i.imgur.com/vJ6oNC9.jpg(in Tommy helmet)
https://i.imgur.com/bXv7ErU.jpg(front centre)
https://i.imgur.com/CaHj0P4.jpg(Fixing a vehicle)
https://i.imgur.com/Nic4Nf4.jpg(Driving a heavy vehicle)
https://i.imgur.com/SPKkz8E.jpg(eating watermelon)
https://i.imgur.com/EDL7H9q.jpg(with a comrade)