Find out if a medal was issued.

[AnnieTaylor]

Hello, 

I’m not sure if I’m posting in the right place or if this is a stupid question, but I’ll ask anyway. 
 

Is there a way to find out (besides asking family!) if someone was awarded a medal? (and how to definitively prove it was for the right person) and if they was, how to get it or a replica made or even a photo. 
 

Thanks

Annie 😊 

[Gunner 87]

21 minutes ago, AnnieTaylor said:

Hello, 

I’m not sure if I’m posting in the right place or if this is a stupid question, but I’ll ask anyway. 
 

Is there a way to find out (besides asking family!) if someone was awarded a medal? (and how to definitively prove it was for the right person) and if they was, how to get it or a replica made or even a photo. 
 

Thanks

Annie 😊 

Hello Annie.

A check against Ancestry or Find My Past may locate the soldiers Medal Index Card and corresponding Medals Rolls. If you dont have access to these subscription sites then the National Archives also hold Medal Index Cards which can be searched via this link https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk

The benefit of searching against Ancestry or Find My Past is you may also find his service records that confirm you have the correct person.

As far as photographs go, Ancestry may hold an image in their public family tees or in their newspaper section which Find My Past also has.

Replicate medals can be purchased from numerous companies online.

regards

Gunner

[AndrewSid]

Annie,

The Medal Index Cards and often the Medal Rolls usually state if a medal was returned.  More common than you might think as people had often moved in the years immediately following WW1.  If they were retuned there is an avenue for MOD to reissue them to the NoK.   Those documents will also be useful in establishing if a medal was actually issued as well.

If your query is about a Gallantry medal  ie Military Medal, then that will require different research but they tend to be better recorded.

Photographs are a separate and often “luck of the draw” type activity.

If your willing to post details here then I venture some powerful expertise will step in to help.

Andy

Edited 9 November , 2023 by AndrewSid

[chaz]

duplicate WW1 trio medals are easily obtained for under £30, there are a few online, ebay or militaria fairs.

going to a specialist may even mount them for display,  as Andrew said, post his details and we can check.

If his medals have been issued there is a possibility they could be in a collectors collection. In this case a message on the BritishMedalForum may reveal the where abouts.

https://britishmedalforum.com/viewforum.php?f=327

[kenf48]

12 hours ago, AndrewSid said:

If your willing to post details here then I venture some powerful expertise will step in to help.

Probably:-

 

[AnnieTaylor]

13 hours ago, chaz said:

duplicate WW1 trio medals are easily obtained for under £30, there are a few online, ebay or militaria fairs.

going to a specialist may even mount them for display,  as Andrew said, post his details and we can check.

If his medals have been issued there is a possibility they could be in a collectors collection. In this case a message on the BritishMedalForum may reveal the where abouts.

https://britishmedalforum.com/viewforum.php?f=327

Thank you all very much, I’m not sure if I’m replying to you all here or directly, apologies. I have Ancestry and found a few things, he’s buried in France and my dad visited his grave and that also confirmed we found the right person on Ancestry. 
 

I’ll post what I have and any additional information would be great. Thanks so much for your help! 

[AnnieTaylor]

 

Thank you all very much! I have Ancestry and found a few things. 

I’ll post what I have and any additional information would be great. Thanks so much for your help! Here is a roll for victory and British war medals I found on Ancestry. 

John Quantrell - 228223 

Edited 10 November , 2023 by AnnieTaylor
Additional information added

[mancpal]

Annie

His medal roll index card (colour copy on Ancestry) is indicative that his medals were issued, there is no suggestion from the card that they were returned. His entitlement was the BWM and VM. This tells us that whilst he may have been in the army prior to 1916 he didn’t serve in a theatre of war until on or after 1/1/16 (had he done so then he would have qualified for either a ‘14 or ‘14-‘15 star). 
It has been mentioned above that the British Medal Forum could be a further source of information. It is also possible to set up an alert on EBay on the off chance they come on the market in the future. Here’s where my memory fails me though other members will no doubt inform you of a way to check if they have been sold through certain auction houses (apologies for the vagueness). 
In terms of replacements I can think of 3 options. Firstly there are many companies offering reproduction medals though I’d imagine they vary greatly in quality/detail. A company I’ve seen recommended on the forum previously is Worcester Medals, I can’t vouch for them personally as I’m not a collector. 
Secondly, particularly if you are wish to frame them, would be to buy an original pair as the inscription on the rim would be hidden, this method has the advantage of preserving the memory of the original recipient. 
Finally, buying an original pair that have had the original recipients details skimmed off (for whatever reason). I have only ever come across one set, again not being a collector I’ve never looked for any but they are certainly out there.

Simon

[AnnieTaylor]

10 hours ago, mancpal said:

Annie

His medal roll index card (colour copy on Ancestry) is indicative that his medals were issued, there is no suggestion from the card that they were returned. His entitlement was the BWM and VM. This tells us that whilst he may have been in the army prior to 1916 he didn’t serve in a theatre of war until on or after 1/1/16 (had he done so then he would have qualified for either a ‘14 or ‘14-‘15 star). 
It has been mentioned above that the British Medal Forum could be a further source of information. It is also possible to set up an alert on EBay on the off chance they come on the market in the future. Here’s where my memory fails me though other members will no doubt inform you of a way to check if they have been sold through certain auction houses (apologies for the vagueness). 
In terms of replacements I can think of 3 options. Firstly there are many companies offering reproduction medals though I’d imagine they vary greatly in quality/detail. A company I’ve seen recommended on the forum previously is Worcester Medals, I can’t vouch for them personally as I’m not a collector. 
Secondly, particularly if you are wish to frame them, would be to buy an original pair as the inscription on the rim would be hidden, this method has the advantage of preserving the memory of the original recipient. 
Finally, buying an original pair that have had the original recipients details skimmed off (for whatever reason). I have only ever come across one set, again not being a collector I’ve never looked for any but they are certainly out there.

Simon

Thank you Simon, this is very helpful 😊

[FROGSMILE]

On 09/11/2023 at 21:53, AnnieTaylor said:

Hello, 

I’m not sure if I’m posting in the right place or if this is a stupid question, but I’ll ask anyway. 
 

Is there a way to find out (besides asking family!) if someone was awarded a medal? (and how to definitively prove it was for the right person) and if they was, how to get it or a replica made or even a photo. 
 

Thanks

Annie 😊 

Here is a photo of how his two medals would appear Annie.  His name rank and unit would be inscribed on the edges.

Edited 11 November , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[Michelle Young]

His medal index card is shown on page one of your previous thread, which shows his entitlement. 

[chaz]

19 hours ago, mancpal said:

Annie

In terms of replacements I can think of 3 options. Firstly there are many companies offering reproduction medals though I’d imagine they vary greatly in quality/detail. A company I’ve seen recommended on the forum previously is Worcester Medals, I can’t vouch for them personally as I’m not a collector. 
Secondly, particularly if you are wish to frame them, would be to buy an original pair as the inscription on the rim would be hidden, this method has the advantage of preserving the memory of the original recipient. 
Finally, buying an original pair that have had the original recipients details skimmed off (for whatever reason). I have only ever come across one set, again not being a collector I’ve never looked for any but they are certainly out there.

Simon

ref the last statement regarding erased medals, in the eyes of medal collectors, this is looked on as a crime. 

erasing or even buying erased medals only encourages others to do it. You can buy a pair on ebay for £30 and probably double that selling as erased, but one day the family of the original named soldier may be looking for them. Its best to buy a named pair or two singles and keep a note of the name. One day, your pair may come along.

my great uncles trio and plaque x 2 and another surviving brothers trio appeared 15 years after I  started looking for them, and 30 odd years after the regimental museum were aware of them , after a watch was put on The Saleroom, ebay, BMF and google they appeared and they are now back in the family.

[AnnieTaylor]

2 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

Here is a photo of how his two medals would appear Annie.  His name rank and unit would be inscribed on the edges.

Thank you, that is so helpful! 😊

[AnnieTaylor]

7 minutes ago, chaz said:

ref the last statement regarding erased medals, in the eyes of medal collectors, this is looked on as a crime. 

erasing or even buying erased medals only encourages others to do it. You can buy a pair on ebay for £30 and probably double that selling as erased, but one day the family of the original named soldier may be looking for them. Its best to buy a named pair or two singles and keep a note of the name. One day, your pair may come along.

my great uncles trio and plaque x 2 and another surviving brothers trio appeared 15 years after I  started looking for them, and 30 odd years after the regimental museum were aware of them , after a watch was put on The Saleroom, ebay, BMF and google they appeared and they are now back in the family.

That’s brilliant, I’ll definitely keep a look out on those places. If I purchase a blank one, is it okay to inscribe them? Or does that count as disrespectful? 

[GWF1967]

2 hours ago, AnnieTaylor said:

That’s brilliant, I’ll definitely keep a look out on those places. If I purchase a blank one, is it okay to inscribe them? Or does that count as disrespectful? 

You can have new replacement medals engraved, they will usually be marked to indicate that they are replacement/copies. 

[chaz]

its ok to have them engraved , the only problem is if someone were to pass them off as originals, as long as there is a R on them it should be ok.

not saying you would, but in some cases there has been collectors disputing the fact they have the originals with others passing off duplicate ones. Later conflict/issue medals , there was a item on local tv this week where an original recipient had his medals stolen 40 years ago, the collector who had them did not know but has passed on, they were then passed onto a militaria dealer to sell. On being informed the shop then returned them to the recipient. He now has his medals to wear on remembrance day and the replacement pair he had to buy 40 years ago while still serving (put on a charge by his officer for losing medals on his wedding day) .