ph0ebus Posted 22 October , 2009 Share Posted 22 October , 2009 Hi all, I recently found out my grandfather's brother, Willi Stern, was awarded the O.B.E., and after some searching have had no luck finding any comprehensive list of recipients nor a way to determine when or why he received such an honor. One suggestion in another forum suggested looking through the London Gazette online but either he is not listed in there or I am doing the search wrong (either may indeed be true). Here's my only source of info about this award: its mention the obituary of his sister Else Segall (nee Stern) who passed away in the 1970s: I know nothing else about Willi, so if this is insufficient information I may not be able to make much more headway until I do. Would O.B.E. recipients living in Cardiff, Wales be listed in the London Gazette? Or would they be listed somewhere else? Thanks, -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 22 October , 2009 Share Posted 22 October , 2009 Yes the Welsh are included in the London Gazette. Try searching for varaiations of W., Willi, William, Stern do you have an approx date? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 22 October , 2009 Share Posted 22 October , 2009 There are far too many recipients for someone to publish a comprehensive list. He would have been listed in the London Gazette, but a reason may not have been given. He could have been awarded it for Civil or Military recognition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 22 October , 2009 Author Share Posted 22 October , 2009 Yes the Welsh are included in the London Gazette. Try searching for varaiations of W., Willi, William, Stern do you have an approx date? Hi, I haven't the faintest. I only know it was awarded prior to 25 Jan 1979, which is when the mention appeared in the obit. Will dig around now and see what turns up. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raldal Posted 23 October , 2009 Share Posted 23 October , 2009 A William Joe Stern, Principal Scientific Officer, Ministry of Defence was awarded an OBE LG 15 June 1957 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 24 October , 2009 Author Share Posted 24 October , 2009 A William Joe Stern, Principal Scientific Officer, Ministry of Defence was awarded an OBE LG 15 June 1957 Hi RMD, Not at all sure that is him, but who knows? I am trying to figure out when get got to Cardiff from Germany and when he left, as that will narrow down the range. Perhaps a dumb question, but were German born men let into the Ministry of Defense that soon after WWII? The problem I have been having is that I get no results using Willi Stern or W. Stern, the William Sterns are a maybe and if you just use Stern O.B.E. you get the award for every sailor whose ship was either hit in or sank by the 'Stern'. Back to the search... -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 24 October , 2009 Share Posted 24 October , 2009 It's unlikely to be the MoD PSO guy as he died in 1965; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Joseph_Stern and the newspaper ref does not say the 'late' Willi Stern OBE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 3 November , 2009 Author Share Posted 3 November , 2009 It's unlikely to be the MoD PSO guy as he died in 1965; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Joseph_Stern and the newspaper ref does not say the 'late' Willi Stern OBE Hi all, I am having zero luck finding Willi via this route...is there some place, i.e., government office in the UK, that I can write for this information? I googled around but found no clear direction as to who I might try and contact regarding my request. Thanks, -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 3 November , 2009 Share Posted 3 November , 2009 You could try the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, which is based in St James' Palace, London SW1 and is an office of the Royal Household rather than a government department per se.. They may not be able to help as you are not a direct descendant. Finding the London Gazette reference will only give you a date (likely to be the New Year or Birthday [June] Honours List in this case), as it is only the higher grades which indicate what the award was for. He should be in the London Gazette but it can be tricky to search. Be prepared to broaden your search terms; he may not have been listed in the Gazette as 'Willi'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 6 November , 2009 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2009 You could try the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, which is based in St James' Palace, London SW1 and is an office of the Royal Household rather than a government department per se.. They may not be able to help as you are not a direct descendant. Finding the London Gazette reference will only give you a date (likely to be the New Year or Birthday [June] Honours List in this case), as it is only the higher grades which indicate what the award was for. He should be in the London Gazette but it can be tricky to search. Be prepared to broaden your search terms; he may not have been listed in the Gazette as 'Willi'. Hi, Thanks for the suggestions...I will see what I can find via both routes. I have been trying various versions of Willi (will, william, wilhelm, willy, w., etc.) with zero luck, and just looking for Stern and Order of the British Empire does not find him, either. Argh. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 8 November , 2009 Share Posted 8 November , 2009 I think the official chapel for the Order is at Westminster Abbey, possibly they have a roll othose who have been so honoured, or even a data base these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punjab612 Posted 8 November , 2009 Share Posted 8 November , 2009 Are you including 'Order' of the British Empire in your search? The 'O' of OBE is for Officer. one of the 4 ranks of the Order of the Britsih Empire. Knigth (KBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 8 November , 2009 Share Posted 8 November , 2009 Peter is correct. The O in OBE doesn't stand for Order, although it is is a common mistake. Wikipedia gives a reasonable account of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and its four classes of which the OBE (Officer) is one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 9 November , 2009 Author Share Posted 9 November , 2009 Hi Peter and Chris, Yes indeed, I was using Order. That may have been part of the problem. Let me look again using Officer and see what turns up. Thanks for the info! -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 14 November , 2009 Share Posted 14 November , 2009 one of the 4 ranks of the Order of the Britsih Empire. Knigth (KBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). The fifth rank is Knight [or Dame] Grand Cross (GBE). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 23 November , 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2009 I think I am going to give up on this avenue of research. It is quite like looking for a needle in a haystack. Perhaps I will have better luck finding his obituary and perhaps obtain some info via that route. Thanks to everyone for the ideas and assistance thus far. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 23 November , 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2009 Wouldn't you know, 30 seconds after I throw in the towel, and I just Google "Willi Stern" and Wales, I find it! http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/474...nts/17/page.pdf He's in the right column, second from the top. So, he actually became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1977, a far cry from the Great War, but a learning experience nonetheless. My sincere thanks to everyone. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 26 December , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 December , 2012 Well, it certainly took a while but finally found out why Willi was awarded the M.B.E.: Thanks again, all. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalyback Posted 26 December , 2012 Share Posted 26 December , 2012 There are some very old(for the area) buildings on treforest estate. Do you want me to look about and see if anything worth taking a photo of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 27 December , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2012 There are some very old(for the area) buildings on treforest estate. Do you want me to look about and see if anything worth taking a photo of? What a wonderful offer! I would be most appreciative of that if you go. I found an old photo of the building from the 1970s, here: http://archive.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/treorchy/index.php?a=subjects&s=item&key=SYToyOntpOjA7aTo3NztpOjE7czo4OiJJbmR1c3RyeSI7fQ==&pg=466 And an address which may or may not correlate with this building: Pearl Paints Ltd., Severn Road, Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, CF37 5SR I have no idea what, if anything, is there today, but it would be cool if it's still there. Thanks again, Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 27 December , 2012 Share Posted 27 December , 2012 Is this it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 27 December , 2012 Share Posted 27 December , 2012 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 27 December , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2012 I would call that a spot-on match...nicely done! Google maps? -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 27 December , 2012 Share Posted 27 December , 2012 Yes, I was bored! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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