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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Tabby Cat on Wednesday 16 November 05 00:30 GMT (UK)
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I have been sent this photo of my grandmother who served in France during WW1. The medals appear to be the 1914 Star, Victory medal and War medal. However, the centre medal appears to be worn back to front and possibly has another medal behind it but attached to the same ribbon. Any ideas on why this could be? - or were they just pinned on incorrectly.
Geraldine
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Hi Tabby Cat!
What a wonderful photo!! You are lucky to have such a brave Grandmother!
Have you checked her medal card? I wonder if the other medal could be French maybe??
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/
Maybe if you could also post her name and details - somebody will be able to tell you some information about her!!
Annie
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I checked the medal cards - she had two; They are both in her married name - I could not find one in her maiden name which was Jones (she married in 1915). If you can enlighten me regarding some of the info on the card I would be most grateful. I know she served at Fort Mahon on the Somme and at Chateau Boisemont in Calais. I have a copy of a letter from the French authorities thanking her for her services, so maybe they awarded her a medal as well. Would there be any info on this at National Archives and what reference number would I look under.
Geraldine
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Geraldine!
Is there any way you could make the cards bigger? I'm squinting through a magnifying glass and I still can't see very well!! ::) ::) ;) - must be my age .... !
I'm also trying to see if the other medal could be the Royal Red Cross medal ...
http://static.flickr.com/32/63759378_d46798232a_o.jpg
Annie
Here's the others! except one has the oak leaves !
http://static.flickr.com/35/63761141_0b24075059_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/34/63761398_27fcea2a26_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/25/63761854_d29df6c84d_o.jpg
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Ooops - I made the file smaller but overdid it. Try this. I think it might be something like the Red Cross medal as it looks angular rather than round.
Geraldine
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geraldine,the medals are in the right order and they are what you say they are,she could bring a dead man back to life with a smile like that,theres a clever lady called sue on the great war forum,she will be able to help you further,mack
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I also asked Jim from GWF to take a look at your "Josie " too!!
He has a database of nurses - and knows a lot about them too!
Mack - do you think that is another medal and what does her card say?
Annie ;)
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OK I heard from Jim and he said
I can read most of the cards. The lower one has been raised once she married as a cross reference shoing her as British Red Cross and St. John of Jerusalem. The first card, from the top, See Mrs J.A.B. Johnson ie cross refering to the second card. B.E.F.1914 is British Expeditionary Force 1914. This means that the first medal on her chest should be the 1914 star rather than the 1914/5 star. She was with British Red Cross, Unit 6, Paris. She was a nursing sister. Her file number is B.R.X/13/1 (British Red Cross). The dates and other references I cannot help you with. She resigned on the 24th March 1915 and I would guess that was because she married. Married women were normally not allowed to serve. I hope that this helps, Jim
So we still need to find out about the medals etc ::) ::)
Annie
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By the way - there is a way to get her records
http://www.redcross.org.uk/standard.asp?id=3423
Good Luck!
Anniee
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Many thanks for your help. I'll contact the Red Cross and see what they come up with.
I only joined recently and am very appreciative of the willingness of others to help people with their family history. Hopefully, at some point in the future I will be able to return the favour.
Geraldine
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You're Welcome!
Let us know what you find out - you could help others that way - telling how the process went etc!
Good Luck!
Annie :)
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Hi Geraldine,
the centre medal looks like the British War Medal. I would guess that the third (difficult to see) is the Victory Medal. The Victory Medal was issued to all who already had the 1914 or 1914-15 Star.
If you have any other pictures, I'd be happy to go back to the books.
Thudnut
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Hi again Geraldine.
I was mooching about on E-Bay and saw this. Not direclty related to your relative, but it may give you an insight as to how WW1 nurses worked:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/a-war-nurses-diary-war-nurse-nursing-ww1-book_W0QQitemZ6227053845QQcategoryZ91340QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Regards,
Thudders
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Hello Geraldine, I am Steph from New Zealand although I am originally from the UK and have been here 14 years. I am 59 and am 'ONLY' here on this forum to let you know that I sought solace on the web today browsing photos of WW1 nurses after 20 years of quite bad Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the loss of all immediate family in the 90's inclusive of children and I was browsing military forums and the photograph of your Grandmother gave me such warmth and peace today and She shone out like a bright star among all the photos of nurses on the Google pages I turned to.
She reminded me of my dear Nan who lived in Hampton, London although Nan would have only been a child at this time. I do not know any of my family from these times but I have served 5 years in the Royal Navy in the 1970's and there is a strong military background on my Mother's side. I felt 'obliged' to let you know as I didn't want to come across as intrusive to your Grandmother's good name but wanted you to know that the photo brought me great comfort and solace today at a time of utter despair, purely by seeing the love and warmth in Her eyes of which radiated so caring and vibrant.
I sincerely hope that you are not offended Geraldine but when one has no 'faith' in a time of distress then one has to turn to worldly avenues for solace. I only know what I see in the media about the times of WW1 but I feel the Nurses of that era had a Unique quality that could never ever be emulated. Perhaps a Unity of Hope and Compassion reigned. Thank you for sharing this photo and have a most wonderful day back in England. Steph Sancia, Waikouaiti, East Otago Coast, NZ.