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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Supersnap on Monday 11 October 10 00:11 BST (UK)
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Hi,
My grandfather was in WW1 in the rifle brigade. He ended up at the rank of Major.
His name was Walter Richard Godfrey Chambers and was born in 1883 in Exeter, Devon. My father has his medal ribbons, one of which is the Military Cross. Unfortunately the medals are at the bottom of the ocean when a ship he was on got torpedo at some point. I never knew my grandfather he died in 1956 (before I was even thought of!). My father said that my grandfather never liked talking about how he got it. All he would say was that he lost a good friend at the battle of the Somme (we found out that Mark Glanville Chambers was his brother died at the Somme 1916).
My question is...how do i find out what it was awarded for and when? Ive looked the gazette and dont seem to find anything. And someone suggested the local newspaper from where he lived. Im struggling!
Can anyone help me please?
Many thanks
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Do you have a Battalion in the RB he served in as a war diary should give an account..the Gazette will have acitation for the MC....just a nightmare to navigate!
Ady
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Hello
His promotion to Major in the Army of India Reserve of Officers was in the London Gazette on 31st July 1931:
"To be Maj.
Walter Richard Godfrey Chambers, 4th June
• 1931, with seniority 3rd Nov. 1930."
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33740/pages/5028/page.pdf
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Just found your previous post:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,413908.0.html
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Have you found a medal record for Mark Chambers?
there is one possible on NA site if Mark was also in the Rifles:
Medal card of Chambers, Mark
Corps Regiment No Rank
2nd Rifle Brigade 4593 Private
2nd Rifle Brigade 4593 Private
Date: 1914-1920
Catalogue reference: WO 372/4
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Thanks morganllan,
Morganllan: mmm45 sent me his medal card but thank you.
mmm45: This is what i have (his other details are in my original post)
Was in the 4/13th Frontier Force Rifles (Wildes)(late 57th Wilde's Rifles) during WW1 (he
was in India for a time) and awarded the Military Cross (not sure why and where).
Obtained the rank of Major 3rd November 1930. Was a Police War Reserve Officer during
WW2.
Any info relating to his Military cross or police would be really helpful.
Thanks for all your help guys.
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http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13448&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=wo389
MC details will be available here but not online.Can you post a photo of the ribbons hes proving hard to track down.Hes resignation in 1934 doesnt have MC after his name.
Ady
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Thanks,
I'll ask my dad to scan his fathers medal ribbons, then i can post the scan on here
Many thanks
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Here are my grandfathers medal ribbons. Not sure what some of them are, but my dad will email me with what they are.
Curious of how he was awarded the main one.
Thanks for any help.
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Cracking set of Ribbons...Theres a Military Cross,Distinguished Conduct Medal plus the Boer War KSA/QSA medals WW1 Trio Indian General Service Medal and a few others that will no doubt be confirmed this evening!
He should have a DCM citation...i found a walter Chambers Medal Card yesterday that had DCM but couldnt find anymore info...will go and find it see if it ties in :)
This man must have served as an Other Rank before been commisioned.
Ady
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I think that as he served into the 1930s his service file will still be with the Army. His current next of kin can apply to the Army and ask for a copy of his records. There is a charge (it was £30 a little while back) but if you go down that route (and it works) you may well find the answer to some of your questions probably more quickly than digging around on so many awards etc!
Also - while there are many helpful experts on here - there is a chap on the Great War Forum who specialises in the Rifle Brigade. I think he looks in here too, but maybe not as often. Might be worth posting there and quoting 'Rifle Brigade' in the post heading.
Bernard
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Thanks for that Bernard.
In reference to the medals, my dad has sent me an email with what they are:
TOP ROW : MILITARY CROSS/DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL/ARMY MERITORIOUS MEDAL SERVICE
MEDAL/SOUTH AFRICA QUEENS 1899/KINGS 1901-2
SECOND ROW: INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1895 -1908/ INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1908 -1935/ WW1
1914-1915 STAR/BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1914 -1920/WW1 VICTORY MEDAL 1914 -1918
THIRD ROW : INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1935-1939/ WW2 DEFENCE MEDAL 1939 - 1945/ ARMY LONG SERVICE MEDAL.