R.M.L.I

[Marjorie]

My son in law has given me a medal he got, I think, from a car boot sale.  I have been trying to decipher details on the reverse.

The name is,     'PTE. H HAWES'  (or LAWES)
Under that is :   C.H.?.?.?.1
under that is :   R.M.L.I.
                         JUNE 18 1919

On the front the date is 1914 - 1915

Can anyone tell me what RMLI stands for, or guess at CH...     Also why is the date on the back much later than the dates on the front.

Any suggestions please?

[ricky1]

Hi Marjorie
I think you will find tha RMLI stands for Royal Marines Light Infantry.
ricky

[M.T.H]

Hi Marjorie,

Ricky is right about the Royal Marines Light Infantry.

I would think that the CH is a reference to the RMLI depot at Chatham which was usually abbreviated as CH or CHA.

I'm not sure about the dates on the medal but it does sound like an interesting find.From the description it doesn't sound like a campaign medal,do you have a pic of it?

Mick

[harribobs]

my first thought was 1914/15 star, but the star has 1914/15 not 1914/1915

CH is the chatham prefix to the service number

i can't seem to find and Hawes or Lawes in the RMLI in the WW1 campaign medals index 


let's have a pic of it 

[Marjorie]

I haven't got a photo but will try and get one.

However, in the meantime : 

It is basically a four pointed star, with the fourth point at the top replaced (or hidden within) the crown.

There are two swords crossing across the centre of the star, the two points of the swords each side of the crown, and the handles (hilts?) each side of the point at the bottom on the star.  There is a wreath of leaves on the star with a G with a V inside it (George V?) on the point at the bottom and yes, the date is 1914-15 (sorry not 1914 - 1915 as I said previously).  The wreath surrounds the date banner.

Hope that may help.

I also have another  medal (exactly the same shape)  for a Cpr. S Walker of 3/Rif.Brig.   However, in the centre of the star, within the wreath, the date is Aug. (on a small banner), with  1914 on a banner in the centre and Nov. on a banner at the bottom just above the G with the V inside it.   This medal has a red, white and blue ribbon on.   (The other medal does not have its ribbon)   From national archives I find his name was Sidney.

[M.T.H]

Hi Marjorie,

I'm with Harribobs reagarding the RMLI medal,the second sounds like it could be a Mons Star!!

http://homepages.tesco.net/~medals/14star.htm

Regards,Mick

[Marjorie]

Hi Mick

Yes, that is the medal!

Very many thanks for that info.

Now all I need to do is try and trace the families!!

Many thanks to you all for your input.   

Isn't it a shame that the medals ended up in a car boot sale?

Marj

[M.T.H]

Many thanks to you all for your input.   
Isn't it a shame that the medals ended up in a car boot sale?

No problem Marj,at least the medals are now in the hands of someone who actually cares about them!

Mick

[harribobs]

No problem Marj,at least the medals are now in the hands of someone who actually cares about them!

Mick

totally right Mick 

Now all I need to do is try and trace the families!!

do a pic of the back of the star, well the stars and we'll see what we can come up with