1914 Ribbon on Hosp Blues?

[TEW]

Hi,

This fellow is 3/7495 Percy Meek of the Norfolk Regiment. He may be known to some from the Netley/Seale Hayne footage of shell shock patients. I noticed he was wearing something on his Blues in the film taken at Seale Hayne Summer-Autumn 1918. The archive has a very good quality image of the basket making team with Percy Meek and his badge, clasp or ribbon?

I don’t know what it is, it may be the back of a broken badge, looks like it’s crimped at the edges and held something that’s missing. Or perhaps that’s just a trick of the light.

Could it be a 1914 Star Ribbon which he was entitled to?

Thanks for looking

TEW

[RedCoat]

Yes it's the 1914 star ribbon as the film is too early for the 1914-15 star to have been worn. It looks strange as you say because of the light though it does look very much like other examples of the 1914 star ribbon I have seen on uniforms in pictures.

Don

[TEW]

Thanks Donnie,

Any idea what the earliest date is he could have been issued with the ribbon? Would the date be on the Medal roll?

Thanks

TEW

[RedCoat]

Perhaps as early as late 1917 though I would expect 1918+ to be the most likely date. The ribbons were being worn prior to the issue of the medal so even if the date were on the role it wouldn't say when he was wearing the ribbon.

In the war diary for the 10th Royal Fusiliers I believe the start of ribbon issues were January/Feb 1918. I would imagine those at home would have been able to receive theirs before those in France.

Don