James Martin Sjt 7377 CG and MFP

[Hett65]

James Martin served as Serjeant 7377 Coldstream Guards and later transfered to MFP as Sjt P/4993.

By his MIC he was awarded a 1914 Star trio the last two medals to MFP, no mention of the award of a Military Medal. By his police record and an article in a local paper he was awarded the Military Medal, however I have tried all ways to trace him in the London Gazette without success. Could someone assist me and try and see if they can find him in the LG.

Thanks

John

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

There does not appear to be a {WW1:ie:1914~1920} LG entry for him for any award either with MP or CG numbers,there is no "Extra" MIC for any Gallantry award @ the NA{eg:MM/DCM/MSM oer even MiD}I would therefore suspect that the award was a result of crossed wires with the Press {was it a WW1 contemporary Article or a later Obit,etc; where information is often "muddled" from Family recall~ even contemporary WW1 articles can be Fiction;a result of hearsay ~ A local man to my area is reported as having been awarded the VC in 1915~he won nothing,only his WW1 trio}

[Hett65]

Harry

Thanks, I must admit I was coming to the same conclusion as yourself, it just seems strange that it was on his police record and in a local paper of the time. The problem with his police record is that they did not ask for proof of an award, just the mans word, and many a man talked up his war service with a few giving themselves awards not earned.

John

[Coldstreamer]

not on my list of CG MM winners sorry

as he trans to police 1.10.16 its more likely the MM was awarded with them

[Hett65]

Coldstreamer

Thanks for checking your records, I have also checked MMP & MFP Honours & Awards 1914-20 by B.L Morris and he does not appear in that book as having been awarded an MM. It looks like he has given this award to himself for some reason.

John

[Coldstreamer]

perhaps an inter wars award ?

[Hett65]

Coldstreamer

I did not think of that when checking the LG, however I have seen his record at the Guards archives and it did not mention an award of the MM.

John

[Coldstreamer]

but he trans out of the gds and they would have no record of latter service

[Hett65]

Coldstreamer

He returned to Durham County Constabulary in 1919, later transfered to Sunderland Borough where he retired from in later years, he did not remain in the army between the wars.

John

[welshdoc]

In the back of my mind I think that a non immeate award of an MSM was not gazetted. These were often awarded years later as pensions became available. Also I think I read ,probably on this forum, that lots were awarded by Eddy VII in about 1948 as there was such a backlog from WW1. But these did not come with a pension. So its possible if I am correct he could have been awarded one of these and the press/records got it slightly wrong. The fact he was a private in the great war (according to his online MIC) though makes this highly improbable as the MSM tended to be for senior NCOs of long standing.

Just reread my post and I cant spell immediate and it was of course George VI in 1948.

[Hett65]

Thanks for the input in relation to a possible award of an MSM in later years. The article on his award of an MM was during the war years, and as you say it is doubtful he would have been awarded an MSM as he was a private. I now believe he has just given himself the award, and possibly his family got in touch with the local papers as they were proud of this and wanted everyone to know about it.

John