Military medal / Rolls Card

[midmum]

Hi there,

I am hoping someone can help me out here, I have read the other topics around Index cards but can't decipher this one.

This has the stamp in the top right hand corner signifying that the Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914 Star were awarded. Under his name is (M M) and I have checked the gazette and he was awarded this also.
Under Action taken it has :

1914 Clo Roses (I think) I.V. 100/Cl off d 8 7/20 Auth Clasp/2/875

I am assuming that this refers to the military medal but don't understand it. He was a Gunner in the 3rd Battalion of the RGA and had enlisted under a different name. Is there any way of finding out how he came to earn the MM?

Many thanks for reading this far!

Heather

[forester]

Hello Heather,

The Clasp and Roses accompany the 1914 Star and were awarded for actually coming under enemy fire between 5th August and 22nd November 1914.

http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/ww1_1914_mons_star_wwi.htm


Any chance of a name and number? 

Phil

[km1971]

Hi Heather

It would a lot easier if you post his name. Here is a link to intepreting medal index cards - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp

'cl' is for a clasp for being in the front line at the start. It turns the 1914 Star into a 'Mons' Star. The Rose was sewn onto the small piece of ribbon for the '14 Star worn over the left breast pocket when not wearing the medal.

IV = Issue Voucher - 100/Cl is probable the reference of the IV - which was dated 8 July 1920. Auth etc is the list authorising the issue.

Most MMs were issued without a citation. Finding it in the London Gazette and then using the date to find it in his local newspaper might pay off. The MM was not introduced until 1916. Usually they were awarded about 3-4 months after the action. If his is an early one it could be from 1914 or 1915, so the newspaper route may be the only way of even finding the battle.

Ken

[midmum]

Wow,

Thanks, he enlisted as a Herbert Delaney but had other names!!! The citation was in the 16th July 1918 and reads in brackets after his name ( (E) Seaforth). His background is a bit of a mystery but i do know he received a pension but have yet to locate the records for that.

Thanks so much!! This is all for a friend who will be pleased to know so much already.

Heather

[forester]

Heather,

If you're anywhere near Kew the war diary for 3 Siege Battery RGA is catalogued under WO 95/479 and covers Sept 1914 to Feb 1918.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/04y1/

Phil

[midmum]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for that. Whilst I can't get there my friend may well go down and look. The battery apparently first went overseas 17 Sept 1914 so there should be some mention of his experiences in France which would be of interest.

Thanks to you and Ken for your help.

Heather

[mmm45]

The Town in brackets after a MM listing in the London Gazette is usually town he was from..perhaps the E means enlisted?  So he could be from the Liverpool area.

If you can narrow it down then you may be able to find a report in his local paper of the time giving reasons why he was awarded it.Again he may have a mention in the unit war diary.

The time for awards ive found is usually about 3 months from deed to award of medal.

Ady

[Suttonrog]

The London Gazette is on line and you should be able to find his citation.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/

Rog

[midmum]

Hi,

I think  you are right he must have enlisted at Seaforth as he was born in Salford. I will try the papers at Salford first. Is that three months from the listing in  the gazette? The archives do have an alphabetical index for lots of them though so I may fall lucky again as I have here.

Thanks to all for the info.

Heather