Help with Medal cards

[Chris P]

This is my maternal grandad's MIC........ and one of the long lists of medals I'm hoping to one day come across. I've asked my mother over the years, & she's pretty insistent he never received, or never claimed his medals. is there any way of telling from this? Also, assuming that to be the case, I understand replacements are available for next of Kin from the MOD still......What are the qualifications for obtaining a replacement set, & where would I find out? I'd also be grateful if anyone could tell me when he may have enlisted from this. Thanks!

Chris P.

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

The Index Card indicates that the Medals were returned[Rtd] this is usually due to their being undeliverable as they were sent "Registered Post",eg: the Family had moved or there was no one there on numerous occasions to sign for them.

The MOD has now ceased to re~issue WW1 Awards{though as they were apparently Never issued & received you may have a chance,it'll onlycost you a stamp or two}

[Chris P]

Thanks Harry........I'm glad that confirms what we thought........at least I have something positive to go on.

When may he have enlisted, & into which bat? can you tell from the number?

Thanks, Chris P.

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

His number indicates that he enlisted around July 1914 when there was a recruitment drive in the 1st Cambridgeshire Regt.[@ that time there was only the One Battalion]

However as he appears to only have been awarded the BWM & Victory he must have elected {or been unfit/underage} not to go Overseas in the original embarkation on February 14th 1915 or one of the later Drafts of that Year{unless he has another Card>}{I have the Cambridgeshire Regt 1914 ~15 Star Roll & will Check}so would have served with the 2/1st or 3/1st Battalion @ Home until he went O/S

If you know where he was living in Cambridgeshire I can probably let you know which Company he was in initially.

Edited 2 January , 2006 by HarryBettsMCDCM

[Chris P]

Harry.

That's helpful. So I can assume he went to France with the 1 bat in 1915.

Reading on the main site, I see the 2/1, 3/1 & 4/1 remained in Uk throughout the war. They were used as reserves though for 1st bat? (My other grandad was 3/1, I believe....326606). & I know he was in F&F. So he would have been draughted into 1st Cambs on going?

Chris P.

[Chris P]

Our posts just crossed. Sorry!

Alfred Stanhope lived at Waterbeach, cambs, my other Gd, Bertram Pollendine lived at Coldhams lane, Cambridge. I have a group photo of 3/1 with Bert in it. I know they new each other at the time, so could well have been in the same company.

Chris.

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

So I can assume he went to France with the 1 bat in 1915.

Reading on the main site, I see the 2/1, 3/1 & 4/1 remained in Uk throughout the war. They were used as reserves though for 1st bat? (My other grandad was 3/1, I believe....326606). & I know he was in F&F. So he would have been draughted into 1st Cambs on going?

Sorry missed out the NOT in previous post he didnt go over until after 1916,when he would have joined the 1/1st Battalion.Providing they remained with the Regiment & were not posted to another Unit within their Division{as often happened~but would be noted on the MiC}it is to the 1/1st that they would have gone![Your other GF was ultimately in the LC so it is a fair bet that he was wounded or otherwise classified as unfit for Frontline Service & subsequently posted to the Labour Corps on regrading [This could have been prior to or after going to France].

[Chris P]

Thanks for that last bit Harry.....

Gf was indeed gassed in 1917, & then transferred to the LC. He always said it was cushier in the Cambs!

Chris P.