Timur Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 I generally collect WW2 militaria but I have an interest in WW1 and always pick stuff up when I have an opportunity. I recently picked up a medal group for a Leading Seaman RNVR, I'm puzzled as there is a Portuguese medal awarded to the Sailor with his name and serial number on the back of the medal. It's a Cross with a coin in the middle with a gold and red ribbon? I'm trying to get a photo but my phone is playing up. Any ideas about it? Thanks. Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 (edited) A warm welcome to the Forum. There are many experts here who will no doubt soon be in touch. It's not my subject area, but as I happened to be passing - Portugese War Cross? https://www.emedals.com/portugal-a-first-war-war-cross. It could, apparently, be awarded to foreigners. Acknown Edited 27 December , 2019 by Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travers61 Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 Under an inter-allied arrangement Portugal would have given batches of some of its own awards to the other allied nations to award to their own servicemen. Foreign awards were often awarded to British servicemen for actions or service in Theatres of war where the nation whose award it was also fought, but there were exceptions. As well as for individual actions, they could also be awarded for service over a given period of time, and often to men who had a mention in despatches, unit's certificate of good conduct or similar, and/or if a British award was not available. I always have to remind myself when looking at any RNVR men in WW1, that many sailors actually fought on land as infantry in the Royal Navy Division, including the Western Front, where the Portugese also fought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeignGong Posted 28 December , 2019 Share Posted 28 December , 2019 HI Tim Portuguese medals awarded to commonwealth service people are very very rare. Can you give me his name and details and I will check him on my database. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timur Posted 28 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 28 December , 2019 Appreciate all the help, I've some more information, his name is Albert A Morris service number BZ/169 and here's a pic of the medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 28 December , 2019 Share Posted 28 December , 2019 Service number appears to be Z/169, two service records available for him here https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Albert+Morris+169+adm (free download from FMP/Ancestry or local library). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 28 December , 2019 Share Posted 28 December , 2019 (edited) This was not for service in the Royal Naval Division because he did not have any (other than a few weeks at Crystal Palace). He was drafted to sea service in August 1915. He served in Defensively Armed Merchant Ships (DAMS) towards the end of the war. Edited 28 December , 2019 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 28 December , 2019 Share Posted 28 December , 2019 Medal Roll on Ancestry: click here. Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandererpaul Posted 28 December , 2019 Share Posted 28 December , 2019 His record is on FMP here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandererpaul Posted 28 December , 2019 Share Posted 28 December , 2019 There’s a more readable record on FMP here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeignGong Posted 28 December , 2019 Share Posted 28 December , 2019 Hi Tim Sorry I don't know this medal at all and I can't find him mentioned in the LG. I will keep searching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 29 December , 2019 Share Posted 29 December , 2019 On 28/12/2019 at 11:52, Acknown said: Medal Roll on Ancestry: click here. Acknown For those without Ancestry - he was entitled to a 1914-15 Star trio of medals. He claimed them from the Admiralty post-war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timur Posted 29 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 29 December , 2019 Thank you to all who have enlightened me about the man, his medals and his service history. Appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aim Posted 4 January , 2020 Share Posted 4 January , 2020 I have seen sovereigns, half sovereigns and smaller coins put in fancy frames for use as a ring or necklace pendant. I fear this may be something similar, with the owners details added to the reverse of the Portuguese coin. aim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travers61 Posted 5 January , 2020 Share Posted 5 January , 2020 (edited) The coin in the middle seems to be a Portugese Silver 1 Escudo only issued in 1915-1916. https://colnect.com/en/coins/coin/10391-1_Escudo-1910~1926_-_1st_Republic-Portugal Perhaps due to the high rate of inflation in Portugal at the time, between 1913 & 1920 a 1 Escudo note was introduced, with this itself being replaced in 1920 by an Aluminium/Bronze 1 Escudo coin. These changes may have prompted the Silver Escudo's use as an unofficial medal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_escudo Edited 5 January , 2020 by travers61 add note details 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