World War 2 Medals

[redmr2red]

Is there any way of finding out what medals a WW2 soldier (Army) received?   

I'm would like to know the medals Francis Thompson, (born around 1908, we think in Staffordshire) received.  He might have been living in Kent around 1939 - 1945.

The only other information I can provide is that his mother's name was Martha Huskinson.  I am unable to find a marriage for Thompson/Huskinson. 1911 UK Census for Martha Thompson (wife) and Francis Thomson (son) aged around 3 or 4 would be a bonus.

Not much to go on, but it's a start.

Kevin
Melbourne, Australia

[Boere]

National Archives Kew has an on line site where a soldier's medal card can be searched and bought.
May take a few tries due to your limited info.
Regiment would help.
Will

[km1971]

Only information about WW1 medals is available online. To discover a WW2 soldier's entitlement you need to order the man's service record from the MOD.

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

It costs £30 and takes 6-9 months. Ideally they like you to provide the man's regiment and army number. Sometimes they accept just his full name and date of birth. In all cases they require a copy of his death certificate.

Ken

[rjb1984]

redmr2red,

A first port of call would definately be with the MOD and the service records. I would also recommed writing to the MOD medal office. I have two sets of service records for my grand parents, neither of which fully list his medals. The medal office will have his 'Medal Index Card', also refered to as MIC. This should have all the details you seek.

Best of luck,

Rich

[redmr2red]

Many thanks for those replies. We have found a family photo with medals and can work it out from there.

Cheers, Kevin.

[Ruskie]

It costs £30 and takes 6-9 months.

I think it's closer to 12 months - I received service records a couple of weeks ago which took almost a year to arrive.

An enquiry to the medal office regarding his medal entitlement is a lot quicker and they will give you his service number. You can then use this to apply for his service records if you have a common name perhaps, or are unable to ID the medals in the photo. (you can always ask for help to ID them here)

[rjb1984]

redmr2red,

Using a photograph to work out which medals an ancestor had is useful, exactly how I worked out entitlement for one of my grandfathers. With the help of some very kind and knowledgable people on this forum.

I would recommend writing to the medal office, one of my ancestors is missing a clasp from a general service medal which he never claimed. He was the kind of man who wasn't bothered by medals, if they were sent to him, he'd wear them. Otherwise, he wasn't fussed!

The medal office enquiry is free, i've been waiting six months for a reply but from what I hear, i'm the exception rather than the rule. Besides, I can't complain, i'm sure there are thousands of enquiries there every week.

[Rockford]

The medal office enquiry is free

Hi,

Sorry to sidetrack the thread slightly - Is this a separate process from claiming for medals?

Many years ago, I'm sure I recall my now deceased grandfather saying he was entitled to three medals, but I wasn't aware he ever served 'under fire' as it were to be entitled to claim anything other than the Defence Medal and the 1939-1945 War Medal.  He didn't claim these at the time and although I don't qualify as next of kin to claim them now, it would be interesting if the Medals Office could just confirm his entitlement.

If it is a separate process from claiming the actual medals, did you just write to them to ask?


Thanks

Rockford

[Ruskie]

I think there is a form to fill out - it's online somewhere if I remember correctly. Unsure if you can just enquire rather than claim. If your grandfather's medals are unclaimed, you could ask his nok to apply for them and pass them to you if no one else in the family wishes to have them. I believe the service is free (but it is some time since I contacted the Medals Office so am not sure of the exact process).