View Full Version : Family History - WW1 Medals
At long last, I have received today my Grandfathers WW1 medals from Australia, :jump:he was awarded 3, the 1914/1915 Star (unofficially called the Gallipoli Star), the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal. I must be honest I did shed a tear :cry:. I will be wearing them on ANZAC Day on 25th April when I go to ANZAC Memorial service at 5:15 am :huh: and Westminster Abbey Service as well. My dad threw the originals in the bin with a quote " I wanted a Father not bl**dy medals and a photograph" but now I have them and they are safe.
They are not full size ones, but the smaller ones as I am a girl, also I have been informed that as I am a relative and not the original receiptent I have to wear them on the right side. So emotional at the mo.
That's really lovely,Isis :)
I would be in floods of tears - I can imagine how you must be feeling :)
Planet 24
04-02-09, 07:35 PM
That's wonderful Isis - You must be so proud :yes:
Here are my Grandfathers medals, they are small ones, because I am a girl and also they are "court" mounted, so that they don't "clash" together, sorry about the umm tartar sauce bottle, but it was only thing that would hold the piece of paper down. :lol:
That's lovely,Isis :rolleyes::)
I would love to be able to do that with my Grandads medals :(
You can SP,:D what you need to find out is which Medals he was entitled to, try ancestery.co.uk if it is WW1, I also managed to find a Great Uncles War record for WW1, and was able to pass that onto my Aunt as it was her Dad and I found that within 5 mins of looking. If its 2nd WW, you can ask the Ministry of Defence for a form which you fill in, with as much detail as possible e.g. where he served, which regiment if you know it, and then send it off with about £40, they will then post to you your Grandfathers war record and it will say on the war record which medals he was awarded.
I went to a place called Heritage Medals, who are based in Australia, I just googled Replica War Medals and bingo you will have firms which specialise in replic medals, and there you have it. It will be expensive though these 3 medals cost me about £70 inclusive of postage and packing, but if you can get them cast in the UK it maybe chaper. Then you have to decide which size and whether Court Mounted (which means they do not move about) or can't remember the other name (and they do move about) I wish I had not had them court mounted because you cannot see the backs.
Remember only relatives are allowed to wear the medals and you have to wear them on the right side. Also the companys will mount them so that you have them in the right order, that is very important, otherwise you could end up in a bit of bother with the "old" soliders, they are very very hot on it, I did check a protocol website as I will one day get my Dads, and his will be the real deal, as he never claimed them after WW2. If you need anymore assistance let me know by pm.
XX
Thanks Isis :D
I will look into that :D
As for my Dad - well he had medals from WW2 but my big brother decided to swap them for conkers or something when he was a little boy :eek::o
It all happened long before I was even born, but if there was any way.................:rolleyes:;)
I will have to dig out my files/records and have a good long look into it :D