Citation re MM

[Keith Williams]

A friend of mine has been trying to find the citation for his Great grandfather's Military Medal award during the Great War. All records were lost during the blitz and he's now at a loss as to how to find the citation. 

Can any members help in supplying the citation? Only details I have are James William Windley Royal Engineers.

Thanks in anticipation 

Keith

[TullochArd]

James William Windley was awarded the MM as 165786 Spr, 34 Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers.  The MM was gazetted in the London Gazette dated 29 August 1918, Page 10139 and his home town/place of enlistment was named there as Dorking.  MM citations occasional appear in service records but, as you rightly say, JWW's service record was destroyed.  It seems likely that there might be a write up in a Dorking local paper and that might be your best bet.

[Ivor Anderson]

London gazette listing 29 August 1918: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30873/supplement/10139

While with 34th Divisional Signal Co., RE.    MM index card: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6295798

 That LG has awards for the German Spring Offensive - April 1918. Probably for maintaining communications during the attack?

 The 34th DSC war diary may mention him: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353874

 Or, possibly in the 34th Div A&QMG war diary: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14054868

Edited 14 October , 2023 by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[kenf48]

Citations for the MM have not survived, the medal inscribed and awarded for ‘Bravery in the Field’.

The war diary can be downloaded for free if you register from TNA

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353874

As suggested above action during the Battle of the Lys April 1918.  Likely for maintaining communications, laying cable under fire.

 

 

[Keith Williams]

49 minutes ago, TullochArd said:

James William Windley was awarded the MM as 165786 Spr, 34 Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers.  The MM was gazetted in the London Gazette dated 29 August 1918, Page 10139 and his home town/place of enlistment was named there as Dorking.  MM citations occasional appear in service records but, as you rightly say, JWW's service record was destroyed.  It seems likely that there might be a write up in a Dorking local paper and that might be your best bet.

Thank you very much for this. Very much appreciated 

[mancpal]

Keith,

have you searched newspapers relevant to his home district? 
You may not find his citation but may glean a little more information if perhaps a proud relative submitted a photo and some detail.

Simon

Sorry, just noticed Tulloch Ard came up with similar suggestion.

Edited 14 October , 2023 by mancpal

[Keith Williams]

1 minute ago, mancpal said:

Keith,

have you searched newspapers relevant to his home district? 
You may not find his citation but may glean a little more information if perhaps a proud relative submitted a photo and some detail.

Simon

Hi Simon, that's the next step. Thanks for replying 

Keith 

[Allan1892]

Had a search in newspapers for 1918 and couldn't find anything. The only item that I found concerning James W Windley was in the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser, 8 July 1916 (image courtesy of Find My Past)

Edited 16 October , 2023 by Allan1892

[Allan1892]

Remnants of his service record are available on Find My Past and Ancestry. They show that he enlisted on the 20th November 1916 and went overseas on the 12th April 1917. (images courtesy of Find My Past) -- the first image also shows that he was awarded the MM, shows a date of 17/5/18 -- is this the date of his actions that led to his MM?

British Army Service Records 1914-1920 Image | findmypast.co.uk

Ancestry.co.uk - UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920

Edited 16 October , 2023 by Allan1892

[Keith Williams]

Thanks for this Allan, I'll pass it on to Jim Windley junior, as it is his relative.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, much appreciated 

Keith