Africa Star award

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi there

Having just had my late father’s WW2 Medals refurbished, I’m needing some help to determine how he came to be awarded the Africa Star.  He was in the R.A.M.C. from 1940 until 1945 and I can only ever recall him talking about being in the North West Europe theatre of operations (as a Nursing Orderly in 2218 POW Camp at Vilvoorde, Belgium, according to his records).

I have copies of his military records which clearly indicate the award (attached) but there is no actual mention of him being there.

I’ve also attached a ‘cobbled together’ front and reverse of a section of his records which clearly show ‘trooping’ through Liverpool between 12 October 1942 and 2 March 1943 (sorry the pages don’t quite line up and the quality isn’t all that good) and I know the medal was awarded to British and Commonwealth forces who served in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, so he fits the qualifying period.

I’m hoping a RootsChatter can shed light on my quest.

Regards

Chiad Fhear

[MaxD]

From that snippet my suggestion is that he travelled on troopship as part of the medical team on board and landed, at least once, in N Africa.  The minimum time there had to be one day,  However, army personnel had to be on the strength of an operational unit and I'm not sure how 3 Company would have qualified for that.

Do the letters BNAF appear anywhere on his record? 

MaxD

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi MaxD

Thanks for your message. I was thinking along the same lines but the time between embarking and disembarking is quite ‘tight’ to have even one day ashore.

I can’t see any BNAF mention. What does it stand for?

Regards

 Chiad Fhear

[Chiad Fhear]

Sorry MaxD

British North Africa Forces ... No mention of it.

Before the first trooping entry he was at Shrewsbury and subsequently returned to Davyhulme.

Chiad Fhear

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi all

I have had some success here:

Convoyweb (ConvoyWeb) shows:

3/12/42 Convoy MKS2 arriving Liverpool from Algiers
1/3/43 Convoy MKS8 arriving Liverpool from Bone (Algeria)

I would think this almost confirms he was onboard one of the ships in these convoys and therefore entitled to the Africa Star.

From his records:
3 December 1942
Disembarked Liverpool
2 March 1943
Disembarked Liverpool

I am happy to conclude this thread and accept the findings.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond.

Chiad Fhear