refc creux de Guerre's

[moonloon]

according to fasmily tradition my grandfather Bill Turton won a criox de Guerre but never collected it. how can i prove or disprove this award. there is nothing on his medal card or service record ??

[kevin]

moonloon

You can try a search at the London Gazette, my own Grandfathers is mentioned here, but itis also mentioned on his service record.

Regards Kevin

[Coldstreamer]

had a quick look for you but failed

[moonloon]

had a quick look for you but failed

thank you both. i dont know for certain he did get it but thats what i have been told. i would like to prove it one way or another if possible.

[colfi]

Hi Moonloon

I know the frustration about the Croix De guerre, my father was awarded one ( French mention in despatch in the field) with the star attachment). All I have that verifies that he did indeed win this award is a letter from the War Office that congratulates him on the award plus the actual medal. The nedal is dated 1914/16, indicating that it was awarded in 1916. Why the 1914 is on it I don't know as I believe the medal was supposed to have been awarded from 1915 on. All the medals issued during the war have the 1914 plus the year of issue on them, 1914/15, 1914/16, etc etc. If you want an actual medal there is a chap near me who has a few of these, one for every year of the war, all with the star attachment. let me know, I can always ask for you.

Col

[James Blonde]

Hi colfi,

the reason for the 1914 date is it is the year the Great War started.

Kevin in Deva

[bigronhartley]

Hello Col,

Was the Croix De guerre awarded to your father announced in the London Gazette ? I would very much like see the letter from the War Office that congratulates him on the award, would it be possible to post a copy here ? It is a very common occurrence to see Dealers describe the C de G as 'not appearing in the London Gazette, as many were not'. It would be nice to see this substantiated. Thanks.

Regards,

Ron

[colfi]

Hello Col,

Was the Croix De guerre awarded to your father announced in the London Gazette ? I would very much like see the letter from the War Office that congratulates him on the award, would it be possible to post a copy here ? It is a very common occurrence to see Dealers describe the C de G as 'not appearing in the London Gazette, as many were not'. It would be nice to see this substantiated. Thanks.

Regards,

Ron

I have scanned as many gazettes as I could find on line and can find no mention of the award, does this mean it is a bogus award????

The mention of 'dealers' is a help. Are there any specific dealers who may have records of the Croix De Guerre awards??? perhaps records similar to the records office's medal award cards maybe. If they did we could perhaps search there for details of what the medal was awarded for.

I am frustrated at this time as apart from the fact that my Father was awarded the MM and was gazetted for the award, I can find no details as to why he was given the award. The Brigade and battery war diaries make no mention of it. I have read the diaries for the whole of 1916 and came up with nothing. Any ideas???

regards

Col

P.S. Ron, I have answered ur request by email also. col

[bigronhartley]

Hello Col,

Thanks for the email. If you could post details of your father and his MM award, somebody with knowledge of the Battery, Brigade or Division (or Histories of) may be able to help. Dick Flory is the expert on Royal Artillery matters. I have always found that the local newspapers are the best source of information regarding gallantry awards, particularly if they were early in the War. Where did he live ?

If you have the Official letter, then the C de G appears to be genuine and may be related to the award of his MM.

I don't think 'dealers' would specifically have records of the Croix De Guerre awards. I have been told that the French have records of these awards, but I don't know how to go about contacting them. Again someone on the GWF may be able to help. Hope this helps.

Regards

Ron