kelvintruss Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 My grandfather (front centre) only has British and Victory medals on his MIC but am I right in thinking the ribbon shown here isn't one of those? If not, what is it? I assume the chevrons on right sleeve are 3 years overseas service. Would the left sleeve be 2 years good conduct and perhaps a wound stripe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinhat47 Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 You are correct about the insignia! The ribbon is interesting ... it almost looks like the Military Medal ribbon, but the outer stripes don't looks as thick as they would on the MM. I'm puzzed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 You are correct about the insignia! The ribbon is interesting ... it almost looks like the Military Medal ribbon, but the outer stripes don't looks as thick as they would on the MM. I'm puzzed! How about the Croix de Guerre? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 I would say CdeG Whats his name and number? can do a search on London Gazette. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Droocoo Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 looks like the croix de guerre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 He also has a formation sign on his left upper arm; it looks like an "X" shape. Tying that in with his MG trade badge, I suspect it might - might - be possible to identify his unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvintruss Posted 29 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2009 Thank you. He is pte Albert Crisp 11127, mentioned in other posts on the forum. The gentleman to his left has the same medal ribbon, and when I posted a pic of him in an associated link the feedback then was that it looked like the CdG. Is it likely that two guys in the same (transport section?) got the same medal? Odd as well that no one in the family would have known of the award if Albert had got the CdG. As the pic may have been taken just after service in Russia in 1919 could it be related to that operation? Out of interest do the MICs just cover 14-18 or do they include the entire service record to date of release? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 No-one's mentioned that he is MGC... I have a listing of all MGC foreign awards, but won't be able to get at it for a few days. The French CdeG is comparatively much scarcer than the Belgian one (the most common foreign award to the Corps) to MGC recipients. His MIC says he is late Essex Regiment. Unfortunately his formation sign - as shown here - is not conclusive; it could be a Scottish saltire, but a lot of MGC units had formation signs which were based on a crossed Vickers (or a saltire pattern), so difficult to narrow down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvintruss Posted 29 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2009 Thanks Phil, you've helped with Albert before (http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...howtopic=114251). He didn't stay with the Essex Regt lond (no active service) so the medal came from MGC action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 So I did (blush). Bear with me and I'll check my lists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMF Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 Kelt: How old was your grandfather when this picture was taken? From the service chevrons he would appear to have been three years overseas when the picture was taken. How old do you reckon he was when he enlisted? Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvintruss Posted 29 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2009 There's some confusion over his birthdate, which I believe to have been December '97. He enlisted in May '15 and went overseas in Dec '16. Three years oversas would have been '17 (F&F and Italy). '18 (Italy and F&F) and '19 (Russia). India/Mespot followed in 1920 and I think this pic was taken just before sailing to India. suspect he might have declared a date of birth of Sep '96 when he enlisted. KT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvintruss Posted 29 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2009 He certainly looked young when he joined the Essex Regt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 No-one's mentioned that he is MGC... Well, I did point out he was a machine gunner, and drew attention to the formation sign (which, to my rheumy old eyes, has a rectangle below the cross), so do I get a small prize? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvintruss Posted 29 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2009 Of course, and I'd like to know more about formation signs (and how to trace them?) but first place is reserved for whoever confirms the medal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 Was he in the Italian Campaign? it could just possibly be the "Altipianni" {Asiago Plateau} Commenmorative Medal {but not worn as a rule} or more likely;there was a mooted Allied Victory Medal Ribbon which was composed of the Flag Colours of the Allied Nations in Vertical Stripes very similar to the ribbon he is shown wearing I do believe it was worn by some...{& sold post war as replacement ribbon} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvintruss Posted 30 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 30 May , 2009 He was for a few months. Thanks very much. I'll do my homework on the Altipani medal KT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 The Croix de Guerre ribbon is red and green, n'est-ce pas? The stripes in the picture appear to have more contrast than that. cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvintruss Posted 30 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 30 May , 2009 Not sure if this close up helps. Not the CdG methinks and I'm not sure the Italian suggestions is correct from what I can find out about it and its associated ribbon KT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 The Croix de Guerre ribbon is red and green, n'est-ce pas? The stripes in the picture appear to have more contrast than that. cheers Martin B Possibly, although with orthochromatic film (standard at the period) reds are often rendered very dark (because the film captures the blue green end of the spectrum and not the red/yellow). I tried to reproduce this effect digitally HERE Croix de Guerre still looks good to me. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvintruss Posted 30 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 30 May , 2009 If I google the CdG the medal in images all the ribbons seem to look diferent to Albert's in that the width of the light and dark stripes are not the same. However, I came across the French Victory medal (bottom set on this link) which might match, especially given Chris'advice on colour rendering? If it is the French medal, could Albert have qualified to wear it? http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http...t%3D18%26um%3D1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-ted Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 croix du combatant perhaps? Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 What possible official medals is it likely he would be awarded? Mick still thinking CdeG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillgorilla Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 Could his formation sign be 51st Highland Division MGC unit? Medal card of Crisp, Albert Corps Regiment No Rank Machine Gun Corps 11127 Private Essex Regiment 10916 Private Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-ted Posted 31 May , 2009 Share Posted 31 May , 2009 Croix de guerre still a possibility. I'm off to search Italian and Russian ribbons but I think it has to be CduC or CduG. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now