1914 Bar

[mcderms]

How does one prove eligibility for the Aug-Nov bar? I understood that it was a result of being under fire between these dates... my relative was (wounded in Ovt 14 with the 2/Warks) but does this mean he should have a bar on his star? I have seen a mix of 1/Warks and 2/Warks trios - some with bar, some without...

[Neil Burns]

Star & Bar Thread

Hi McDerms,

The bar was awarded after the star was issued and had to be applied for. See the above thread for a fuller discussion.

Take care,

Neil

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

As he was definitely wounded within the qualifying period,he would have been entitled,however as the Clasp was an "Afterthought" following on from the issue of the Star,it had to be claimed by those entitled{except KiA/DoW/Etc;}so wether he actually claimed it you will only discover by consulting the Medal Roll Page or Index Card,MiC Online:~ Click Here

[mcderms]

Ah ha! I now think I know what happened... my GG didn't live long enough to claim it. The two wounds he got in 14 and 15 saw him invalided out in 16 and he passed away in the early 20s.

[Guest scott leader]

Same as Harry says....

If he was confirmed as wounded between 4 Aug - midnight 22 Nov or with in range of artillery, he should have the clasp, but only if he claimed it, this is the reason we see many without the Aug/Nov bar.

[Terry]

I have a group in my collection which is similar. The war diary actually describes how he was wounded in September,1914, so obviously he earned the clasp, but no mention on his MIC.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

This is a debate that is never going to be settled. The bar was not issued to all those who were eligible, it was left for the men or their next of kin to claim it. By the time it was decided upon, not only had the ‘old army’ been decimated, but also many of them were tired of the whole idea. I have seen pages of medal rolls, including those of front line units that landed in August 1914 where the clasp hadn’t been claimed.

[Terry]

per ardua...,

You are exactly right. We should not look back ninety years later and think that so and so did or didn't have/earn a clasp. Too many variables in play.