Albert Edward Taylor. His medals

[jim1]

The reason why I ask (& I can't speak for AllanUK) is that if they are genuine BW & V medals the
information on the rim doesn't make sense.
I know medals were struck & awarded to men who served by their Companies & Guilds
& they may look very similar.

[AllanUK]

The reason why I ask (& I can't speak for AllanUK) is that if they are genuine BW & V medals the
information on the rim doesn't make sense.
I know medals were struck & awarded to men who served by their Companies & Guilds
& they may look very similar.

I agree Jim1 -- it would be of great benefit to see images of the rims.

[AllanUK]

Ken -- can you look at the rims again please to clarify the three letters after BLR MKR

Could WFA actually be MFA ??

[kwr]

Brilliant Alan! Absolutely right. M. is the correct letter. So Merchant maybe?

I took them over to my son last night and he pointed out that it was an M - his eyesight is better than mine. It means that you and Jim1 are very likely correct and that these are not "real" medals but versions of them.

He has promised to come over and post them for me bur he still works  so I'm not sure quite when it will be. You will see them but perhaps not as quickly as I would like.

[AllanUK]

Good morning Ken,

With the assistance of a fellow WW1 enthusiast I think that your man has been identified as a Boilermaker that served on HMS Victorian, an armed merchant cruiser which regularly sailed out of Liverpool.

Looking at the Mercantile Marine Reserve (MMR) medal roll as held by the National Archives, we find that he was awarded the 1914/15 Star Medal in addition to the BWM and the VM medals. All medals were sent to his widow. The fact that he was awarded the 1914/15 Star means that he entered a 'Theatre of War' [at sea] sometime after November 1914.

The MFA stands for the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary

I have attached an image (courtesy of the National Archives) that shows his entry in the MMR medal rolls. I have also shown below a link to HMS Victorian's ship's log -- although I can't find him mentioned by name, the log gives you an idea of what the ship was involved in during WW1.

https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_Victorian.htm

[jim1]

Well done AllanUK. Good bit of sleuthing.

[kwr]

Wonderful Alan!
 Not long after your reply - about five minutes, I was notified by the GRO that his death certificate was available. He died in 1917 in Bootle aged 29 of bronchopneumonia, leaving a wife and two small children. Death notified by my great grandad William Henry Taylor. One photo of him as a 7 yr. old survives.

Family History really has its moments doesn't it?

Ken

[AllanUK]

Well done AllanUK. Good bit of sleuthing.

A 'shout of thanks' must also go to a fellow WW1 enthusiast on another forum.

[AllanUK]

Family History really has its moments doesn't it?
Ken

It certainly does!!