airdlass Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Apologies for what is probably a daft question but is there any way of finding out what happened to a soldiers medals if they aren't with the family? I am researching my great uncle who fought with the AIF and was invalided out in 1918. i managed to access his records online which showed the medals he received -but have not been able to trace them. Thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 about your only chances are... medal/collectors/militaria fairs. ebay. one of the many medal sellers on line. one of the many collectors on forums like this one. your starter is post his details, just name if thats all you have, maybe a location, helpfully a regiment. access his medal card and you know what you should be looking for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesK161 Posted 27 November , 2006 Share Posted 27 November , 2006 One other suggestion is the Orders and Medals Research Society. Their website is at www.omrs.org.uk Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max (UK) Posted 27 November , 2006 Share Posted 27 November , 2006 I would love to know what the £20 membership fee for the OMRS is for. As far as I can see, it is a forum about medals research and studies. In what ways is this better than, for example, the British Medals Forum, which is fantastic and packed with info and FREE? I saw the OMRS web site a while back and couldn't see anything there that made me think I really should join it. Certainly their web site doesn't particuarly describe "Society Aims" in any particularly wonderful way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airdlass Posted 27 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 November , 2006 Thankyou for your replies My greatuncle's name was James Mackay - born 1885 - died 1925 in Western Australia. He was a Private ,51st Battalion,6th Reinforcement, AIF. his medals were British War Medal and Victory Medal. The copy I got from the National Archives shows 3 diagrams - a star shaped one with a crown on the top?aswell as one which says British War Medal and one says victory. Is that two sides of one medal or two different ones? Regimental number from Nominal Roll 2678A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 28 November , 2006 Share Posted 28 November , 2006 These are three medals, The War Medal , the Star and the Victory medal. The war medal was silver, the Victory medal was brass and the 1914, or 1914/15 Star was brass also. Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airdlass Posted 28 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 28 November , 2006 Hi Tom thanks for you reply. On the print out I have there is no mention of the Star. It has 19'14/15 on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 28 November , 2006 Share Posted 28 November , 2006 HAve you looked for his service records in Australia Archive yet? It will show his medal entitlement where he went and so on. http://naa12.naa.gov.au/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airdlass Posted 28 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 28 November , 2006 Hi there Yes I have downloaed his service records and it shows the three medals. He died in Australia, didn't marry, so assume his effects would be sent home. thanks for your reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Saillard Posted 28 November , 2006 Share Posted 28 November , 2006 Hello airdlass ! I have just had a look at your great uncle's service file on the National Archives of Australia website. He was only entitled to two medals - 1 : The British War Medal 2 : The Victory Medal The image depicting the 1914/15 Star has the initials NE written on it - meaning that he was Not Entitled to this decoration. He had enlisted on 19 June 1916, which was outside the qualifying period. It is very difficult to say what happend to his medals after he passed away. It may be that he left a will containing instructions on what was to happen with his estate. If so, then it might contain a reference to the medals. I would suggest you try this venue if possible. With your permission, I would like to forward the details about the medals to someone in Australia who has made it their mission to try and return 'lost' medals. Sorry this is not much - but hope it helps somewhat, Regards Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Strawbridge Posted 28 November , 2006 Share Posted 28 November , 2006 I would love to know what the £20 membership fee for the OMRS is for. As far as I can see, it is a forum about medals research and studies. In what ways is this better than, for example, the British Medals Forum, which is fantastic and packed with info and FREE? I saw the OMRS web site a while back and couldn't see anything there that made me think I really should join it. Certainly their web site doesn't particuarly describe "Society Aims" in any particularly wonderful way. Quite a few of us on this Forum will be members. It is the quarterly journal and the qudos of belonging in a "club" with like-minded enthusiasts that make the membership worth while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airdlass Posted 28 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 28 November , 2006 Hi Wayne thanks for the information and confirmation of his entitlement. I have been trying to trace James's whereabouts etc for some time and have finally found where he died, his employment etc so would just like to find out about his medals. I have my grandfather's and also another of my greatuncles who was killed in action. I also have a wee note pad which my grandfather kept,a sort of diary, from some of his time during the war. Very interesting reading and something to keep. Any help would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 29 November , 2006 Share Posted 29 November , 2006 Hi Ardless, Just a long shot. Do you know if he actually received his medals? Some veterans never picked them up. Try Central Army Records Office at a Victoria Barracks in St Kilda, Melbourne, giving your Great Uncle's number, rank,name and unit and your relationship to him. They will let you know if the medals are still held by them and, if not, who they were issued to. That might give you a start on tracking them down. Regards Crunchy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Heavey Posted 29 November , 2006 Share Posted 29 November , 2006 Top man Crunchy, dont really like St Kilda me, more of a Crows fan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airdlass Posted 29 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 29 November , 2006 Hi Crunchy Many thanks - I will definately contact them first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 29 November , 2006 Share Posted 29 November , 2006 I would love to know what the £20 membership fee for the OMRS is for. As far as I can see, it is a forum about medals research and studies. In what ways is this better than, for example, the British Medals Forum, which is fantastic and packed with info and FREE? Ive made some good friends through the OMRS - its also nice to pick up something and read it - I also much prefer looking through a dealers catalogue than just searching for "guards" on line and the membership age is probably quite high and perhaps not every one is computer minded from a research point of view, it doesnt compete with the internet purely for the size of the audience and response rate not better than the BMF its just an alternative and I take your point re the website - but how could it compare with Chris' masterpiece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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